《Scions of the Tuatha Dé [A Historical Fantasy]》


 1) Prologue / The admission

    Prologue


    The fate of a fourteen-year-old boy was on the line but the lashing rain did not care. Donal MacLaughlin and his brother, Finn, hid under some thatch that protruded from a house north of Dunfanaghy, Ireland.


    ¡°I can¡¯t hear,¡± Donal said. ¡°What are they talking about?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re trying to figure out what to do with us,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I knew that part. I was hoping that you had better luck hearing what was said.¡±


    The house belonged to a friend of their parents, a friend so close the boys knew him as ¡°Uncle¡± Murrough. He visited frequently despite the day-long trip it required. The boys¡¯ parents in kind brought the boys across Tyrconnell several times a year to spend a week with Murrough.


    The boys¡¯ grandparents had long passed away and no extended family lived nearby. Murrough readily assumed any extended familial duties and responsibilities for them. Last week, those duties included helping the brothers lay their parents to an untimely rest.


    ¡°Why is Mrs. MacSweeney here, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Her family still owns our land,¡± Finn explained.


    ¡°Don¡¯t we get a say? Why would she take our home?¡±


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t done anything yet, Donal. Have some trust in Murrough. Who knows? Maybe he¡¯s the one taking us in.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to leave our home! How can you be so calm?¡±


    ¡°Do not mistake me for¡ª¡±


    The front door opened. Murrough¡¯s head emerged from the doorway.


    ¡°Boys, can you join us inside?¡± the old man asked. He retracted his head within the house. Finn and Donal exchanged nervous glances as the door between them shut behind Murrough.


    Murrough¡¯s wiry grey hair and white beard were the only hints of his advancing age. Aside from the crow¡¯s feet beside his blue eyes and a few lines across his forehead, his face was unnaturally smooth. His spine had no hump, his gait did not shuffle. Finn was growing, but Murrough still stood a full head above him.


    Donal tucked in behind Finn as they made their way to the table. Murrough reclaimed his seat next to a short, middle-aged woman.


    Mrs. MacSweeney sat on the edge of her seat. Her posture was stiff but the expression on her rounded face was soft. Despite being indoors, she kept on her red brat cloak, trimmed in yellow. It draped over a leine shirt with a small ruffle around the collar. A thin bead collected at the bottom of her green eyes as she searched each boy¡¯s face. Donal assumed she wanted the necessary answers to bypass uncomfortable small talk.


    Murrough spoke first.


    ¡°Boys, none of us want to have this conversation so soon after, well¡­¡±


    He swallowed hard and relied on a swirling hand gesture to complete his thought.


    ¡°But we have no choice. Decisions have to be made, and soon.¡±


    Donal leaned in, ready to pounce at the opportunity to speak but a hand on his shoulder and a firm look from Finn kept him quiet.


    ¡°In many cases, children who lose both parents would become wards of someone in the village and work for them¡ªsometimes in the same house, sometimes split up. If the guardian¡¯s in a trade, the children would become apprentices.¡±


    ¡°That is, of course,¡± Murrough said, ¡°if the children do not have family nearby. I¡¯m not your blood, but I¡¯ve known you both your whole lives. You have a place with me waiting for you; just say the word.¡±


    Donal squirmed in his seat and looked at Finn, volunteering the older brother to speak up. His brother nodded.


    ¡°We can¡¯t thank you enough for the offer, Uncle, but Donal doesn¡¯t want to leave home.¡±


    He broke eye contact.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather stay as well.¡±


    Murrough flashed Mrs. MacSweeney a glance.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize; I thought as much. Still, you¡¯re seventeen, Finn. Old enough to know it¡¯s not that simple. Mrs. MacSweeney¡¯s family owns the land. What happens next is as much her choice as it is yours.¡±


    The widow nodded at Murrough.


    ¡°It¡¯s never easy being where you boys are,¡± she said. ¡°Two years Mr. MacSweeney¡¯s been gone now, and the children still struggle. So here¡¯s how it will be. As long as you pay your rent, everything¡¯s grand. If you can¡¯t pay on time, tell me in advance and we can make reasonable arrangements. That will be good enough for short periods.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m not your mam and I never will be. If you two won¡¯t do the required work, I¡¯ll find someone who will. You¡¯d have to leave your farm and move in here with Murrough.¡±


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°Finn, let¡¯s be clear,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Accepting this means you¡¯d have to finish raising your brother while managing the farm. He¡¯s still fourteen. Any plans you had for the friary in Moville will have to wait at least until Donal can make it on his own.¡±


    Finn looked at Donal long enough to force the younger brother to bow his head and close his eyes. Donal knew there was little chance Finn had taken the enormity of it all into account. His nose spent more time in books than in their dirt and it wouldn¡¯t be more than two years before he¡¯d be gone.


    Finn swallowed hard. Donal could hear the shakiness in his brother¡¯s voice.


    Out with it, Finn, Donal thought to himself. It¡¯s not your fault.


    ¡°We can do it, sure.¡±


    Silence stifled the room. Donal opened his eyelids and found Finn¡¯s eyes locked on the widow¡¯s face. Mrs. MacSweeney eyed each person in the room before she leaned back in her chair and sighed.


    ¡°So it is,¡± she said, looking at Murrough.


    Finn shifted in his seat and straightened his spine.


    ¡°We¡¯re ready,¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not ready, in fact,¡± she said. ¡°But you¡¯re serious, and that¡¯s enough for now. My daughter Siobhan will visit each month for the rent and to offer advice, if needed. A word as I walk to my wagon, Murrough?¡±


    Murrough gestured for the widow to lead as the elders stood. She patted the boys on the shoulders and bid them good-bye with a restrained smile before she exited the house. After the sound of hooves and wheels had faded, Murrough returned through the door and nodded.


    ¡°That went better than expected. Let¡¯s take your things back home.¡±


    Chapter 1


    ¡°Are you listening to me?¡±


    Donal¡¯s face dropped out of his right hand. It would have landed in his porridge had its perch been lower. His brother, Finn, paced around the open hearth in the middle of their cottage.


    Finn was nearly his father¡¯s double. It was the reason Donal found his brother¡¯s lectures so irksome. He stood the same height, his face elongated into the same oblong shape. His hair was the same shade of auburn and it, too, waved in whichever direction the pillow willed it. Finn did everything but puff out his chest and stick a condescending finger in the air to fake his father¡¯s natural gravitas.


    ¡°This is what I¡¯m talking about!¡± Finn said, gesturing at Donal with two upward palms.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Finn. I¡¯m tired, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°And why wouldn¡¯t you be? You just rolled out of bed¡ªonly four hours after I did.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not fair! I was kept up all night by¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªNightmares. I heard. Like the night before. Like I will tonight, probably.¡±


    Donal jumped to his feet.


    ¡°Oi! Too far.¡±


    Finn raised both hands in front of him, stepped backward and pinched the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m simply trying to tell you that things are bad this year. Worse than the first two years. This farm is too much for one man in good times, but now? I badly need your help.¡±


    ¡°You already have my help,¡± Donal said. ¡°I help all the time!¡±


    His voice dropped to a mutter.


    ¡°Not that you¡¯d ever notice or thank me.¡±


    Finn halted his pacing and faced Donal.


    ¡°Thank you? For what? I cannot even get you to milk the cow or collect seaweed without either begging or yelling. Thank you? For climbing out of bed in the middle of the day and doing two hours of shoddy work?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I like waking up in that state?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Dya¡¯think I want to see those things every night? Or even during the day?¡±


    Finn flopped his hands at Donal.


    ¡°And now you¡¯re napping during your chores?¡±


    ¡°I am not napping during chores!¡± Donal said. ¡°Sometimes they¡¯re as plain as you standing right there as I do ¡®em.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t how Donal planned to tell Finn about his waking nightmares, but he was cornered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± said Finn. ¡°What are you saying?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Tell me. Are they something like visions?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe?¡±


    ¡°Does it happen a lot? During the day, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Couple times, lately. Can we please stop talking about this?¡±


    Finn¡¯s brown eyes softened.


    ¡°I want to understand. To help if I can.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it anymore.¡±


    ¡°We could talk to Murrough. He might know what¡ª¡±


    ¡°Finn! Enough.¡±


    Donal slumped into his seat. His eyes drifted to the white clover outside the window while he gathered the courage to look back towards his brother.


    ¡°You¡¯re not ready to talk,¡± Finn said. ¡°I get that. You need to remember, though, that you¡¯re not the only one who lost your mam and da. I still have to go out there to sow and harvest. To milk and shear. To cook. To gather, haul and sell.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get to tell the MacSweeneys each month, ¡®Sorry for not getting you your money. I¡¯m sad and I have terrible dreams!¡¯¡±


    Finn raised a hand.


    ¡°I know that¡¯s not what you said, but that¡¯s what it will sound like, fair or not. After three years, we¡¯re testing their patience as is.¡±


    ¡°Ah well, I know all about what you do,¡± Donal said.


    His face was hot and his mind spun. At this point he only cared about landing as many body blows as would make him feel better.


    ¡°You¡¯re not bashful about it. Why are you doing all of that, though? You didn¡¯t dream of being some dryshite farmer. Why don¡¯t you leave town and do your fancy learning and praying already? You¡¯re not doing this for me, are you? Lord knows I didn¡¯t ask you to stay here!¡±


    Finn¡¯s tone sharpened.


    ¡°And I¡¯m not asking,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯m telling you. You¡¯ve got work to do today. I¡¯m going to town to sell what little we can.¡±


    Finn turned on his heel and walked out the door, slamming it shut.


    ¡°Oh, I will, yeah,¡± Donal yelled at the door.


    He glowered at his food, waiting for his brother to get in the last word from the outside. It never came. Donal had nothing to do but take out his feelings on his breakfast.


    ****


    Finn loaded a bag of oats, two bags of barley and two wheels of cheese onto his family¡¯s pull cart. He might not reach the markets in the Crossroads and be back by sunset, but he could make it to Ards Beg or Gortahork.


    The door opened over his shoulder and Donal stepped into the yard. The blood had drained from his face, leaving behind his usual pale complexion framed by black hair that draped to either side.


    The fire behind Donal''s brown eyes had cooled and his angled jaw hung lax once more. He walked in minced steps toward his brother. Finn wasn¡¯t keen on another fight, however, and jumped at the chance to steer their next conversation.


    ¡°Siobhan is coming this afternoon,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few more bags and some cheese to give her, hopefully it will make up for the money that we¡¯re missing.¡±


    ¡°Could you not wait a little longer and give it to her yourself?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°You will do it and any other jobs that need doing, and that¡¯s that. If you do not do all of these things, you will have to make your own meals until Murrough visits.¡±


    Donal¡¯s brows furrowed and his head cocked to the side. Finn closed his eyes and sighed.


    ¡°That is two full days of meals,¡± Finn said.


    He reached for the cart but pulled his hands back and looked over at his younger brother.


    ¡°Donal, I¡¯m sorry for giving out to you earlier. I was frustrated. This thing eating you at night, I know you don¡¯t want it. But I really do need your help and the less we fight about it, the better, in my eyes. Let¡¯s try and get through this week and then see to these nightmares¡ªboth night and day.¡±


    Donal¡¯s face pinched as he looked down to his shoes. He raised eyes toward his brother once more, brows raised. Finn knew that expression well.


    ¡°Apology accepted. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡±


    Finn flashed a half-hearted smile and pulled the cart away from the house.

 2) Finding Finn

    For Donal, the worst part about working the family land wasn¡¯t the actual work. It was the repetitive tasks and how they left his mind to wander¡ªoften to places he¡¯d rather not visit. A shadow often lurked in the back of his mind and the only things it was good for were pulling a fight out of thin air, intrusive thoughts and tearing himself down.


    He walked back from the shore of Ballyness Bay with a stack of seaweed. His extended arms ached as he held the stack away from his shirt. In a day or two they¡¯d use the plants in the parts of the fields that struggled to grow, but for now it was a slimy clump that smelled faintly of rotting eggs. As he surveyed the beige, cracked fields that lied between him and the house, he doubted if the entire bay held enough seaweed for the job.


    Their land ran up to the bay head where wide stretches of sand met water. Smaller rivers dug through the nearby shore like eels squirming to reach the sea. It had several inlets on all sides, and from their home Donal could see almost the entire bay extend to the northwest. On good days, he could see the entrance to the sea. Outside of some low and gloomy clouds offshore to the north, near Tory Island, it was a brisk but gorgeous day set to the sounds of crashing waves and gull calls.


    He stacked the plants in the smaller hut. His eyes lingered over the sight of his home basking in the afternoon sun. True, he and his brother were struggling with the farm, but the house had been in their family for several generations now, built out of stones dug from the neighboring grounds. Many nearby families weren¡¯t as fortunate. Their homes were built from the same mud-covered wattle that comprised Donal¡¯s small outbuildings.


    His last task was to replace the muddy daub layer on the outbuildings¡¯ walls. This morning¡¯s anger was now frustration, but it wasn¡¯t with Finn. Donal would not, could not, ever say it aloud but Finn was right. The farm was struggling and he was making it worse. Why was he giving his brother such a hard time?


    The shadow in his mind had some ideas.


    He only stayed because you were too scared to leave Mam and Da¡¯s house, it told him. If you two fail, he gets to go where he wanted to go all along and you can be Murrough¡¯s problem. This was never going to work out; why are we trying so hard to pretend otherwise?


    A loud snap disrupted Donal¡¯s spiral. He had lost his focus and pushed a sizable hole through a wall near one of the corners of the larger hut. Without a second thought, he flung the mud-filled pail and yelled.


    He wiped his brow and looked skyward. It was now four hours past midday. Finn had not returned. What¡¯s more, Siobhan never came. Even if she rode up to the house at this very moment, she¡¯d have little chance of making it home before sunset. She wasn¡¯t coming.


    It didn¡¯t sit right with him. Finn was rarely late¡ªor mistaken¡ªin regards to day-to-day plans. Today he was both. Given how Donal started their last fight, he considered himself responsible for anything that happened to his brother.


    He walked back to the house and grabbed a spade that leaned against it. Donal either would meet Finn on the road or find out what happened to him. He stared at the house, but thought better of bringing any extra equipment.


    ****


    For as sparse as his fields looked, the random vegetation was growing well. Sycamore and aspen trees popped out of the thick blackthorn and ferns that lined both sides of their road as it led southward. It dipped and climbed as it led to the left. At times the space between the hedges was so narrow Donal wondered how anyone could navigate a wagon through it.


    It dawned on Donal that Finn or Murrough held the reins whenever he left the farm and by this point he was either lost in thought or asleep. Has the road always been this narrow?


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    He reached the crossing with the road to Ards Beg and glanced west. The new road descended as the roadside flora spread apart to reveal a landscape painted in an unseasonable shade of brown. Green only appeared in small dots and thin lines along the edges of individual fields.


    The three closest towns to Donal¡¯s home, however, were to the east. In that direction the road was wider but the undergrowth and trees that lined it were just as thick as his own road. He passed a clearing with a few houses near the crossing. Donal could hear the voices of a family behind one and stopped. Did they see his brother? Finn was good about talking with the neighbors and keeping up appearances and niceties, though Donal knew that his brother found that harder to do than working the fields. If Finn made it here he¡¯d be home by now. Donal resumed his walk to the east.


    He would have better luck if he stopped someone traveling from that direction. They would have passed him. The road climbed hills and wound through valleys without any travelers from the east. The only sound came from trees blown by wind from the bay. Unease crept over him as the road crossed a small river. An unseen animal shook the brush along the north side of the road. The sun was low, but still above the trees; surely some people were on the road home.


    Donal walked this main road for another half-mile. The blackthorn on the north side of the road stopped at a short stone wall. It was well built and only the amount of ivy that covered it told the wall¡¯s true age. The house behind it reminded Donal of his own, only larger and more ornate. He was measuring up some of the structure¡¯s extra rooms and finishing touches when a yell echoed from his right.


    It was faint, further up the road and unmistakable. Finn¡¯s voice was growing louder, though he still could not be seen. Donal ran toward his brother¡¯s voice. As he neared the end of the property to his left, a new noise chilled him from head to toe, rooting him in the middle of the road.


    It resembled the squeal and blow of a horse, but far lower in pitch. It reverberated for an unnatural length of time, rolling like thunder. His body compelled him to retreat, but Finn¡¯s yelling had stopped. Donal¡¯s concerns lied not with his own safety but Finn¡¯s. Forward he went.


    Donal neared the end of the stone wall. A road branched to the north on the other side. He backtracked from the crossing and dove into the copse along the southern edge of the road to assess the situation.


    The sun behind Donal dipped below the treeline, darkening the road in either direction. As the hoofbeats grew louder, the echoes that bounced off trees and vegetation shortened. A dreadful silhouette crested over the farthest visible rise. It approached with purpose, though not in full gallop. He couldn¡¯t make out any details, but Finn grunted with every bounce of the darkened shape.


    The undergrowth provided Donal enough cover to creep closer. He held his breath with every rustle and snap of small twig that his movement made. He lurched at the sound of rustling and cracking from across the road before convincing himself it was his own echo.


    The rider was now six hundred feet away and the shadow¡¯s odd shape confused Donal. The horse was larger than most that traveled this road, but that didn¡¯t explain the curves above it.


    Three hundred feet away. From this distance, Finn¡¯s form laid across the back of the rider¡¯s horse, his head pointing to the far side of the road. He was bound.


    Two hundred feet. Two lights flickered in front, bright as small lanterns but ember red. Donal never saw the like of the combination.


    One hundred feet. The rider¡¯s shadow clung low to the horse, the posture of someone that ducks their head even with their shoulders. Inches below, the two lights intensified. Donal mistook them for the rider¡¯s own eyes. He sank backwards into the brush to avoid detection.


    The rider slowed as he made the turn north, displaying his profile to any onlookers. Donal realized that the glowing red lights he saw must have been the horse¡¯s eyes because its rider was missing his head.


    Donal rubbed his eyes.


    It¡¯s an illusion from the long shadows at sunset, he told himself.


    As the rider traveled north past the property between them, the clearing allowed the last few rays of vermilion sunlight through the trees and onto the rider¡¯s back. Donal could not deny¡ªor explain¡ªwhat he saw.


    He clenched his teeth and squeezed a fist downward with a grunt of frustration. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else for it,¡± he muttered.


    Donal jumped out of the blackthorn and sprinted to the corner of the stone wall and stopped. He leaned his head past the edge to confirm the rider was not looking behind¡ªif a headless man could even do such a thing. He stepped toward the middle of the road, ready to resume his pursuit.


    He didn¡¯t hear the three quick footsteps approaching from the rear on his left. He did, however, feel the flying tackle and the hand over his mouth as he was knocked across the road and into the treeline on the right.

 3) The rider

    Putting a hand over another person¡¯s mouth stops them from speaking but it doesn¡¯t stifle the grunt from a flying tackle.


    Donal¡¯s first instinct wasn¡¯t to free himself but to look after the rider he was chasing. Indeed, the horse halted some two hundred yards north of the crossing. A missing head did little to stop this rider¡¯s ability to hear, apparently.


    Donal laid prone on the shoulder of the road. The hand that quieted him now reached from behind his head. He stiffened on the chance his mark¡¯s missing eyes were as good as his absent ears. Whatever held him down laid as still and silent as he did.


    Branches rustled in the tree overhead. The horse stepped toward the hedge. Donal¡¯s eyes widened and remaining frozen in place no longer required effort. His own captor pressed their weight upon him.


    There was no sound other than hooves on dirt. The horse¡¯s slow, steady stride carried it halfway to Donal¡¯s hiding place. Its red eyes didn¡¯t behave quite like the lanterns he first imagined, but soon they¡¯d illuminate him all the same.


    A second rustling came from trees farther behind him, followed by the faint pulse of an owl hoot. The rider yanked its reins and the horse continued north.


    Donal tried turning his torso to push himself up and after his mark, but the person that clamped him down resisted him in kind. Until now, he¡¯d given little thought to who had brought him down, but when they finally relented and allowed him to roll onto his back, he was stunned.


    ¡°Donal MacLaughlin, what on earth are you doing?¡± Siobhan MacSweeney said, as loud as a whisper could allow.


    ¡°What makes you any more suited than I to ask that question?¡± Donal said.


    He slid from under her and stood.


    ¡°To start, I¡¯m not the one about to chase down a thing like that on foot with nothing more than a garden spade and a young man¡¯s temper,¡± she said.


    Donal pointed in the direction of the rider.


    ¡°And you have a plan for this?¡± he asked. ¡°Go on!¡±


    ¡°I do have one,¡± she said. ¡°Well, parts of one. I can¡¯t say it all yet.¡±


    Donal scoffed and backed away from Siobhan. It was pure luck that the rider was too far ahead to hear them. They stood in the open with no consideration of remaining hidden or silent anymore.


    Donal studied her face for any signs worthy of trust or doubt. During the day the sun would transform Siobhan¡¯s long curls of red copper hair into fire but the moonlight gave it an ethereal glow, almost as eerie as the eyes of the steed he wanted to pursue. She pulled it back from her forehead as she considered her next words.


    ¡°We need a bit more than we have now.¡± she said, this time without the whisper. ¡°Let¡¯s follow that river back to your place. It¡¯s a shorter path, it¡¯s covered and it keeps us off the road in case that thing comes back our way.¡±


    Donal pursed his lips in frustration. He didn¡¯t see the upside of delaying his brother¡¯s rescue, but for whatever parts of her plan that she ¡®couldn¡¯t say,¡¯ Siobhan¡¯s plan was better than his pride wanted to admit.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll do it your way.¡±


    Siobhan turned back to the patch on which they hid to get her walking stick. Donal tapped the handle of his spade on the road.


    ¡°How is that manky tree branch you¡¯re carrying any better than my spade?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± she said.


    She narrowed her eyes and shoved her smirk to the side of her face as she tapped her stick on the ground.


    Donal followed the stone wall west, knowing it led to the banks of the Owentully River. It flowed north and reached the bay near his house. He kicked at the ground as he walked until a hand grabbed his arm and whirled him around. Siobhan placed her hands on both of his shoulders to secure his attention.


    ¡°Listen,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re going to get him back, right? He¡¯s going to be alright.¡±


    He said nothing. For all they had just witnessed, she was remarkably calm and self-assured. She made him believe she might be right. She held his gaze with her green eyes until he acknowledged her. With a nod, he followed her toward the river.


    ****


    Finn had two choices, neither good. He was slung over the bony haunches of a horse with his hands bound behind his back. He could slide off the back of the horse with the hope of avoiding trample or a kick on the way down. He would have to land without breaking an arm or leg, and then somehow outrun an otherworldly horse and rider on foot.


    Or, he could stay put and work on his binds in secret to loosen them, waiting for an opportunity to escape from whatever destination lay ahead. Of the two, this option had the least amount of risk.


    The shock of his kidnapping had worn off but he embraced the ongoing denial of certain circumstances. Reports of bandit attacks across the countryside weren¡¯t rare but bandits that lacked a head and rode a beast disguised as a horse¡ªwell, that was too much to accept.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The rider approached Finn as he brought his cart home from Gortahork. Before he could make out any detail about his pursuer, his gut urged him to turn around and run back for the cover of the town. The hoofbeats behind him quickened. The rider held a whip at ear level, ready to strike.


    Finn slipped his hands under the cart¡¯s handles and flung them straight up. He ducked before the whip strike dropped broken boards in front of him while the rest of the cart landed on his back. The rider overshot his approach; it would have to slow down in order to regroup for a second attack.


    That was Finn¡¯s chance. He slid out from under the loose heap of wood and ran west towards home, away from town. He searched in vain for a break in the treeline on either side of the road. Absent of that, all he could do is dodge the next strike and hope the attacker moves on for an easier target. The piercing pain between his shoulder blades ended that hope and the force of the strike knocked him to his knees.


    The lone solace in Finn¡¯s dire situation was the location of his injury. Yes, he could feel his shirt stick to the wound on his back as well as a small trickle down the side of his ribs. He was bleeding; the extent of which was unknown. However, had he been struck in the chest, he¡¯d be bouncing on that wound for however long the trip lasted.


    Finn raised his head after every bend in the road to orient himself. They were still on the main road, as if he was being taken home. He knew they would ride through Ards Beg soon¡ªa much smaller town, sure, but someone would see him. Someone would help him.


    We¡¯re here. Steady now, he told himself.


    The only thing greeting them, however, were gasps and sounds of doors and shutters slamming.


    How could they do nothing?


    ¡°A fine, brave group you are!¡± Finn yelled as they exited the village. ¡°If I die, I¡¯m coming back to haunt the lot of you! Help me!¡±


    His frustration with the citizenry of Ards Beg distracted him from the person¡ªor thing¡ªnext to him on the horse. The rider reached toward his hip and reminded Finn of his presence with the butt end of his whip¡¯s handle. Message received. Finn kept quiet as they continued down the road, though the jostling caused the horse to make a horrid noise.


    The horse veered right but stopped shortly after. Finn raised his head. Between the oncoming dusk and his shifted perspective, he did not recognize the area.


    Are we here? Are we meeting someone?


    The horse reversed direction, walked backwards and stopped once more.


    He thinks we¡¯re being followed, Finn thought. What could he be scared of?


    The horse resumed its original direction and rode for another quarter of a mile. It slowed before coming to a halt next to a tree. This stop was deliberate yet there was nothing here but some large stones stacked amidst some rubble.


    The rider dismounted and secured his horse to the tree. He grabbed Finn by the belt and slid him down onto his feet. Colors of dusk reflected off the bay. They were close to home.


    The rider slapped Finn¡¯s back to usher him around the back of the horse. The slap caught Finn a bit too close to his wound and the jolt of pain caused him to stumble. As the rider reached down to grab his captive¡¯s collar, Finn saw the moonlight glint off a medallion on his chest. He dragged Finn toward the stone pile.


    Finn noted that the larger stones weren¡¯t simply stacked, they were arranged. Two similarly-sized stones supported one larger, flat stone. None of them showed any signs of masonry work and yet they stood in the form of a doorway¡ªand he was going through it.


    The ground sank as they crossed the threshold.


    This is a portal tomb, Finn thought.


    He read and heard much about the old stories of portal tombs, s¨ªdhe mounds and fairy circles. As a child, he listened to his parents¡¯ tales as a welcome distraction as he worked. As he grew, he analyzed them with Murrough and appreciated the tradition that handed them down through generations. Now, the pragmatism required to run a farm and raise his brother scuffed the luster away from it all, one pass at a time, until these tales were little more than a legend of his own past.


    The ground leveled. The rider tossed Finn in the middle of the chamber. He grunted as he landed on his back. The rider turned away from Finn to face the entrance of the chamber. Finn scrambled to his knees and attempted to stretch his bindings. The remaining light from outside the tomb flashed on the rider¡¯s hip revealing to Finn the whip that brought him down. It was made out of a spine¡ªa long one.


    Finn no longer had the luxury of voluntary denial. The missing head, the ghastly steed, the bone whip¡ªhe knew exactly what had kidnapped him.


    ****


    The river was the shortest route home but Donal began to doubt it was the fastest. He followed Siobhan as they slunk along the vegetation on the river¡¯s bank. It was all Donal could do to keep up with her as she dipped in and out of cover through the weeds and the muck.


    Some of Siobhan¡¯s steps were more measured than others, but her pace was steady. They rarely lost sight of the road they left, but no signs of Finn or his kidnapper were seen.


    Donal¡¯s eyes drifted away from his path and across the river winding along his left side. It was twilight and he was peering through two separate lines of timber looking for signs of his¡ª


    He grunted as he bumped into Siobhan. Her outstretched arm was a signal to stop and he missed it.


    ¡°Will you stop acting the maggot?¡± she whispered. ¡°This is serious.¡±


    She pointed to his right. Tied to a tree one hundred yards away was the rider¡¯s horse. Twenty feet beyond, a giant hill of rubble rose out of the ground, capped by a large, flat stone. The horse was facing the road, away from the river.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be crossing the river soon,¡± Siobhan whispered. ¡°Stay quiet.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Donal said. ¡°I¡¯m behind you.¡±


    The next 150 yards felt twice that far to Donal. They reached a break in the ferny undergrowth and stepped through. The dry season halved the Owentully¡¯s usual width of fifteen feet. Crossing the Shannon this was not.


    They took turns putting one foot at the edge of the water and bounding as far as possible. Siobhan remained dry; Donal climbed out soaked up to both knees. Siobhan failed to stifle a laugh.


    ¡°Shut it!¡± he snapped.


    ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s not really that funny,¡± she said.


    Another chuckle slipped out.


    ¡°So how does a fancy rich girl learn to move about this mess so well?¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s smile dropped.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m not good at it. Maybe you¡¯re just really bad?¡±


    He started to brush past her toward the road. Once again Siobhan spun him around by his shoulder.


    ¡°Come here to me, Donal. Don¡¯t judge me on stuff you know nothing about, alright?¡±


    ¡°Fair. Now what do we do?¡±


    ¡°We keep heading to your house,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°You¡¯re going to have to trust me for now.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me enough to tell me?¡±


    ¡°Because once I tell you, it will be nothing but questions and arguments, maybe even ridicule. Finn doesn¡¯t have that kind of time.¡±


    She stopped Donal with a raised hand. He caught it this time and stiffened with his chest puffed out.


    ¡°Did you leave a fire burning when you left?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Donal said. ¡°Not since that one time.¡±


    She pointed toward his cabin. A pillar of smoke rose from the roof, though not in the way that sometimes landed him in trouble.


    ¡°You have a visitor,¡± she said.

 4) Rescue

    The glow of lanterns and candles poured from the windows of the MacLaughlin home. Donal recognized his uncle¡¯s horse standing in front tethered to a small wagon. He opened his mouth to tell Siobhan, but she jumped at the opportunity to identify his guest.


    ¡°He¡¯s early! That¡¯s probably more bad news.¡±


    ¡°Now, hold on!¡± Donal said. ¡°How did you know when he was due here?¡±


    Siobhan was the most sure-footed person Donal knew. In fact, this was the first time he¡¯d seen her caught off-balance in action or conversation.


    ¡°He¡¯s a friend of my family, too. Just, c¡¯mon!¡±


    Murrough stepped out to greet them as they neared the wagon and was encircled by Donal¡¯s hug.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± Murrough said. ¡°Your legs are a state! Where¡¯s Finn?¡±


    Donal let go of his uncle, ready to tell him everything. As he stepped back, he realized Murrough was looking at Siobhan. Their faces expressed concern but not shock nor fear.


    ¡°He was taken,¡± she said. ¡°We last saw them on the other side of the river here.¡±


    ¡°He was still alive?¡± Murrough asked.


    ¡°He was.¡±


    ¡°¡ªAre you asking about Finn or the rider?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Because I can¡¯t believe you haven¡¯t told him about the rider¡¯s missing head!¡±


    Siobhan raised a palm toward Donal to hold him off. ¡°It was a dullahan. We saw a tomb north of the main road. I think he took Finn there.¡±


    Donal shuddered at the mention of the word ¡°tomb.¡± His uncle and Siobhan talked about the trip back home with a striking lack of alarm. It was time to move the conversation along.


    ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Donal asked.


    Murrough glanced east toward the tomb and then looked back at him.


    ¡°Go inside and grab two days worth of supplies for you and your brother and put out the lights and fire on your way out.¡±


    ¡°You want me to pack?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Finn was taken by something you two call a ¡®dullahan,¡¯ off to place you two call a ¡®tomb,¡¯ and you bring me back here and tell me to pack for a trip! What are we waiting for?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Murrough said. ¡°We don¡¯t have time. Siobhan and I can either explain it all to you right now, or we can work on a plan to save Finn while you get your things. Please, Donal, get to it.¡±


    Donal turned his back on the pair and walked to the house. After a few steps, Siobhan and Murrough resumed their discussion. Donal slowed his pace so he could eavesdrop.


    ¡°Why take Finn now?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°It appears we overestimated how much time we had left,¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried Donal may be right,¡± she said. ¡°Dullahans usher along the dead. Should we have chased it and tried to save Finn then and there?¡±


    Donal stopped walking and held his breath.


    ¡°You said he tried to run after it with a spade?¡± Murrough asked. ¡°You made the right call. A plan was needed, even if I wasn¡¯t here to help with it. As for the monster, perhaps he¡¯s ushering Finn to a different location entirely.¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s taking Finn to him?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s ¡¯him?¡¯¡± Donal asked.


    He couldn¡¯t help himself. The look on Murrough¡¯s face was clear, but he spoke to emphasize his point.


    ¡°House. Now!¡±


    ****


    Finn sized up the tomb as he worked on the rope that bound his arms. It had but one chamber, unlike larger portal or passage tombs such as Br¨² na B¨®inne over in Meath, but this room was large. The air was musty and felt thin, yet breathing was no trouble at all.


    His kidnapper faced the outside world from the base of the incline. It stood motionless but not frozen. A missing head always made for a poor debate partner, but Finn had been underground for an hour. The silence and stress were too much for him. He blurted out the next thought that came to mind.


    ¡°You¡¯re a dullahan, right? I recognize you from the tales.¡±


    The dullahan eased its shoulders back and to the right. Now it was frozen in place and Finn couldn¡¯t tell if it was mad, curious, annoyed, or indifferent. The dullahan¡¯s shoulders returned to their original position and it ascended from the chamber.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Annoyed, Finn thought. The rider was annoyed.


    Finn craned his neck forward, looking for his captor. What little ambient light remained above ground cast a headless shadow upon the entryway.


    Finn flexed and twisted his arms behind his back. The rope loosened with every attempt, if only by fractions. With enough time, he knew he could free himself¡ªbut how much time would the dullahan allow?


    ****


    Donal emerged from the darkened house with two bags slung over his shoulder.


    ¡°So?¡± he asked. ¡°What are we doing?¡±


    ¡°You and Siobhan will ride with me back to that crossing,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I will ride a little further east down the road and wait. The two of you will approach the tomb, at which point you will stay put while Siobhan tries to sneak past it and head further north.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯m just going to hide in the bushes while she tries to save Finn all by herself?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I¡¯m the distraction. I¡¯m going to draw it out, leading it north to the bay. When the tomb is empty, you run in, free your brother and run back to the main road and meet up with Murrough to the east.¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, yourself gets nabbed and thrown in a tomb.¡±


    ¡°And what did I tell you about judging me?¡± Siobhan asked with an oddly reassuring grin. ¡°This is exactly why I didn¡¯t want to tell you my plan earlier. As long as I stay out of his whip¡¯s reach, I¡¯ll be fine. As for yourself, use this to cut your brother free.¡±


    She pulled a knife from the back of her belt and handed it to Donal. He chuckled at the thought of an eight-inch knife protecting him against a creature with a whip. It was light with an intricate leather handle below a blade of solid gold.


    ¡°Does your mam know you took her fine things for a job as rough as this?¡± he asked.


    Siobhan removed its sheath from her belt and hooked it to his with a smile.


    ¡°Who do you think gave it to me?¡± she said. ¡°Throw your bags in the wagon and let¡¯s go get Finn.¡±


    Donal marveled at the knife. It was the first time he had held anything that contained gold. He sheathed it and climbed into the back of the wagon.


    Little conversation was had along the way, even between the conspirators sitting in the front. Donal studied the pair to distract himself from his mind¡¯s shadow, which criticized him in the easiest of times. No telling what it would say given the chance with stakes this high.


    Siobhan was a year older than Finn, yet the difference in the way that they carried themselves made the gap appear double, perhaps triple. Whenever it was only her and Donal, she had a way of holding things back in conversation that bordered on patronizing, yet everything was easier, lighter around Siobhan. It was the exact opposite of how it felt being around Finn. Donal never understood why; it wasn¡¯t for the lack of his brother¡¯s love or trying.


    Murrough slowed the horse as he approached the turn. The wagon rolled to a halt and the young people climbed down. Murrough looked squarely at Donal.


    ¡°Wait for Siobhan¡¯s signal. She will be fine so long as you stick to the plan and focus on your brother.¡±


    Donal nodded, doing his best to pretend he believed it.


    Siobhan led him down the moonlit road. They slid into the treeline along the left as the tomb entered their line of sight.


    ¡°Wait here for the signal after I draw him out of the tomb,¡± Siobhan said. She pointed at Donal for effect. ¡°No earlier. Got it?¡±


    Donal pulled the knife from its sheath.


    ¡°No earlier. Hang on, what¡¯s the signal again?¡±


    ¡°It will be very loud. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Siobhan emerged from the brush and sneaked down the road. She was almost even with the tomb when a headless figure emerged from the doorway.


    For a moment Donal, Siobhan and the dullahan all stood in place. Siobhan was the first to move, sprinting north down the road as planned. The dullahan ran after her, passing on the chance to mount his horse. It had no facial expression to confirm but Donal chalked the decision up to one of surprise.


    Siobhan had a 160-yard head start. She was fast, but the dullahan would overtake her given enough time. She ran until her pursuer was fifty yards away, then turned to face him. She said something made unintelligible by the distance between them and moonlight reflected off her stick.


    She raised the walking stick over her head and then pointed the top of it at the dullahan.


    ¡°T¨®rann!¡± she yelled.


    A thunderous boom sounded from her direction. Within seconds, the breeze of its shockwave had reached Donal and jostled him out of his shock. The dullahan scrambled to his feet, 20 yards further back from where he had been. Siobhan ran as soon as the noise sounded to regain some space.


    That can¡¯t be the signal, Donal thought, even as he ran for the tomb.


    His brother¡¯s yells grew louder as Donal neared the entrance. Donal stumbled on the decline and landed on his stomach, the knife flew ahead of him on the chamber floor.


    ¡°Donal! What are you doing here?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Exactly who else did you expect?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know, actually. Just cut me loose!¡±


    Donal hopped up and grabbed the knife. Finn had worked his bindings loose enough that Donal could sever them with little risk to his brother. He grabbed Finn¡¯s arm as they stood up and the two ran out of the tomb.


    Finn sprinted south towards the main road. Donal knew his brother had no reason to look behind, but he stopped to check on his partner. She was near the shore at the end of the road with the dullahan closing in.


    ¡°What are you staring at?¡± Finn asked as he ran back for his brother. ¡°We have to get out of here!¡±


    ¡°Siobhan¡¯s in trouble!¡± Donal said. ¡°We didn¡¯t have time to get set up.¡±


    ¡°Siobhan¡¯s here, too?¡±


    She was five hundred feet from where they stood. Donal looked down at the knife given to him. The idea that popped into his head was foolish but it was better than standing there, powerless, watching his friend overtaken by that creature.


    He twisted his torso and reached back with his knife hand, as far back as his bones would stretch. The motion caused his other hand to extend in the opposite direction, straight ahead of him. The air touching his skin radiated heat as he let the knife fly with a loud grunt, expecting it to land a few dozen yards in front of him.


    Siobhan heard Donal¡¯s grunt and looked in Donal¡¯s direction. The knife glinted in the moonlight as it traveled in an arc higher and farther than he had any right to hope. As the knife descended, she shifted her body and disappeared behind the dullahan¡¯s cloak. The knife landed near its right shoulder blade and the creature dropped to one knee.


    He could see Siobhan standing over it, and again she pointed the top of her walking stick at the creature and yelled.


    ¡°G¨¢eth nerto!¡±


    The dullahan flew two feet into the air and thirty feet backwards. Siobhan ran toward the brothers, stopping only to retrieve her knife and give the creature an overhead chop with her stick. The swing wasn¡¯t hard, but its target winced when it landed as if she had swung a mace.


    Donal and Finn stood motionless in disbelief. The dullahan struggled to move. Siobhan was now halfway back to the tomb. As she neared, Donal could see a puzzled look on her face. He assumed she, too, couldn¡¯t believe what had happened.


    ¡°Why are you two eejits standing there, gawking?¡± she yelled. ¡°Leg it, dammit!¡±

 5) A place for the night

    ¡°This way, Finn!¡± Donal said over his shoulder.


    They had reached the crossing, and Donal heard his brother¡¯s footsteps soften, as if he was running west towards home. Donal would not look back to confirm it on the chance he¡¯d see the dullahan catching up.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t we going home?¡± Finn yelled from behind.


    Siobhan had caught them in the hesitation. Donal fell in line and followed her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll explain everything as we¡¯re riding away,¡± she said.


    ¡°That¡¯s kind of their way,¡± Donal said.


    He ignored the glare from the side of Siobhan¡¯s eye.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± he said. ¡°I assume so, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Did you say, ¡®their?¡¯ Who else is involved?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Run now. Talk later,¡± Siobhan said.


    It was something on which everyone could agree. They spent the last two minutes in a dead run; their strides and breathing were labored. Donal pointed to Murrough¡¯s wagon as it appeared on the horizon.


    ¡°I see you found my wayward nephew,¡± Murrough said as they arrived.


    Nobody answered. Siobhan bypassed the back of the wagon and leaped into the empty seat next to Murrough. Donal flopped into the cargo area. Finn rested his elbows on the back of the wagon and gulped for air after every word of his question.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t we going home?¡±


    ¡°Your home is too close to risk it following us,¡± Murrough said. ¡°We need to put some distance between it and us. And going home risks getting cut off from the east, where we¡¯ll need to go anyway. Get in, please.¡±


    Finn looked behind, shook his head, then climbed in the back. Murrough had the horse in full gallop before his last passenger was fully seated.


    The group rolled through Ards Beg. Donal¡¯s eyes fixed on the road behind as he scanned for any signs of the dullahan. Siobhan studied Finn for most of the ride, a look of concern on her face. Finn said nothing, but scowled at the darkened buildings that passed the wagon on both sides. Once they left town, his eyes returned to the marks on his wrists.


    A road merged from the south. They had entered Gortahork, a town twice the size of the last, yet Murrough continued to fan the reins.


    ¡°We¡¯re not stopping here?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Maybe someone can help us.¡±


    Finn scoffed.


    ¡°Did I say something funny?¡±


    ¡°Not intentionally,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°The area that the dullahan must search for us grows with every mile we add,¡± Murrough said. ¡°We¡¯re traveling far enough to ensure an uninterrupted rest.¡±


    ¡°And where would that be?¡± Finn said. ¡°Derry?¡±


    Murrough either misheard or ignored the tone in Finn¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Good idea, but we¡¯d never make it by sunrise.¡± Murrough said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be there in only a little while.¡±


    They skirted the southeast side of the bay. Donal knew the Crossroads lied around the next bend. He faced his body forward in anticipation as Murrough slowed the wagon. They turned north instead, toward the fields of Ballyconnell.


    The scenery no longer alternated between untended treelines and cities. Here, north of the Crossroads, fields and ranches sprawled in three directions. Most were as barren as their counterparts on the west side of the bay.


    The road curved back and followed the bay¡¯s eastern edge towards the sea. They slowed once more and headed down a private drive, toward the nicest house Donal had seen all night. In truth, it was two houses of differing sizes connected by a smaller structure in the middle.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The roofs were covered in stone shingles, not thatch, and a proper chimney poked out of the center of each larger structure. Matching entrances protruded from either side and every window was lined by shutters trimmed with pain-staked detail. Donal found no spots of discoloration on the cladding. Set against the backdrop of the moonlit bay, he would have forgiven anyone who thought the owner of this house owned the entire area.


    ¡°Do we know these people?¡± Finn asked Murrough. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine anyone would be keen on the four of us arriving unannounced at this time of night.¡±


    Siobhan smirked and looked back at Finn.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll put in a good word for you with the owners.¡±


    The door on the right opened as the wagon rolled to stop. The shadow of the person standing on the threshold wasn¡¯t tall enough to keep the warm light from spilling onto the ground in front of them. A female voice called out.


    ¡°You¡¯re late.¡±


    Siobhan hopped down from her seat.


    ¡°Calm down, Mam,¡± she said. ¡°I told you we¡¯d all survive. Besides, it¡¯s Finn¡¯s fault we¡¯re late.¡±


    She looked back in time to see Finn roll his eyes.


    ****


    It had been weeks since Donal tasted meat, but he was too hungry to savor it. Siobhan joined her three guests resting at the table. The bowls in front of them sat empty¡ªsave for the stray sliver of purple carrot.


    ¡°The stew was delicious, Mrs. MacSweeney,¡± Finn said.


    He elbowed Donal and gestured toward the widow with a swing of his head.


    ¡°Yeah, it was grand,¡± Donal said. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    He slammed his eyebrows down at Finn and mouthed, ¡°Happy?¡± His brother shook his head and looked away.


    ¡°It was nothing at all,¡± the widow said over her shoulder as she attended to something across the room.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want help?¡± Siobhan asked her mother.


    ¡°Nonsense. You rest. Your brother and I can deal to this.¡±


    Donal leaned back in his chair. Manners aside, his brother was poor company. Finn leaned forward in his chair. His mouth was as flat as the table that held his gaze. The insides of his brows dipped to meet the wrinkled bridge of his nose as he massaged his wrists. He survived a situation he ought not have yet there was no gratitude or relief on his face.


    The mad swirl of the past few hours settled into a timeline in Donal¡¯s memory as the adrenaline wore off. He considered his brother¡¯s ordeal, what little he knew. The longer he did so, the larger his need for distraction grew. His concentration broke and his eyes wandered around the main room of the MacSweeney house.


    An open hearth warmed the room from the center as it would in Donal¡¯s house, but there the similarities ended. Several walking sticks leaned in a corner next to the threshold. An especially ornate stick hung on the front wall above a mounted buckler covering two crossed spears. Several other spears were propped in the other corner.


    Across the room from his seat, a cracked door offered a glimpse into another room dedicated to preparing food. The door to its left likely was used for storage. The widow and one of Siobhan¡¯s older brothers worked at a counter between the doors. Above her head hung a shelf packed with toys made from cloth and wood. The toys were the only things in the room that were worn or frayed.


    Between the two windows on the back wall, another shelf held small books and parchment. The wall behind him divided the sleeping area from the rest of the house. The home was cluttered, yet nothing seemed out of place.


    The hosts finished their work. The brother grabbed a book from the shelf and Mrs. MacSweeney dismissed him to the sleeping area with a peck on the cheek. She crossed the room and sat at the head of the table with the boys on her left, Siobhan and Murrough on her right.


    ¡°What¡¯s this nonsense about Finn making you late?¡± she asked Siobhan.


    Donal bristled at the casual nature of the question. Finn¡¯s face darkened. They were the only two reacting to the madness they left in Ards Beg with the proper perspective.


    ¡°That¡¯s a fine way to describe being nabbed and held by a fella with no head!¡± he said.


    ¡°A dullahan?¡± Mrs. MacSweeney asked. ¡°Murrough, did you know about this?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know they were capable of summoning that kind of help,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Finn,¡± the widow said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. What happened?¡±


    Finn recounted his capture west of Gortahork, his ride through Ards Beg and his time in the portal tomb.


    ¡°And then Donal of all people comes bounding in,¡± he said.


    It wasn¡¯t a poetic ending but Finn showed little interest in continuing. Donal glared at Siobhan once he noticed the smirk on her face.


    ¡°You asked the dullahan a question?¡± she asked. ¡°What did you expect for an answer?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Finn said. ¡°By my count that would be only the fourth-strangest thing that happened tonight¡ªright behind Donal¡¯s rainbow knife throw, lightning nearly hitting Siobhan and a damned dullahan jumping out of a storybook to drag me to a tomb!¡±


    The widow raised an eyebrow in Murrough¡¯s direction.


    ¡°¡®Rainbow throw,¡¯ he says?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the first I¡¯ve heard of it,¡± Murrough said.


    Finn pushed his palms against the eyes and then pointed his hands to the ceiling.


    ¡°Dya¡¯not hear the other two things I mentioned?¡±


    ¡°We did,¡± Murrough said. ¡°The knife throw is the only one of the three I can¡¯t explain¡ªdirectly, at least.¡±


    Finn¡¯s eyes widened. His nostrils flared. The corners of his mouth quivered as if questions in his mind were delayed somewhere along the way out. Instead, he wobbled his head and threw himself backwards into his chair and immediately lurched forward with a grunt.


    ¡°You¡¯re not hurt¡ªare ya, boyo?¡± Murrough asked.


    ¡°The dullahan caught me in the back with his whip.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us that?¡± Mrs. MacSweeney said. ¡°We can¡¯t read your mind after all!¡±


    Finn¡¯s face disappeared into his hand and his head shook. Donal gave his brother a soft pat on the arm with the heel of his fist.

 6) The Tuatha D茅

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not cut,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°So there¡¯s that.¡±


    A pot of water warmed over the hearth. Siobhan pulled a patch of linen out of it with a hook and transferred it to a bowl of vinegar on the table. Finn had taken Mrs. MacSweeney¡¯s seat at the end of the table and spun it backwards to let Siobhan dress his back.


    ¡°I¡¯m not bleeding?¡± Finn asked. ¡°That is a relief.¡±


    ¡°You are bleeding. A little.¡±


    She added some salt to the bowl.


    ¡°You already have a fierce bruise and it will cover your upper back in a few days. Your skin¡¯s broken in the center of the bruise; that¡¯s probably what you felt.¡±


    Finn¡¯s leine shirt soaked behind him in a bucket. The ionar vest that masked any trace of the bleeding was clutched between his chest and the chair back. His cheeks were pink.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a wound like this before,¡± she said.


    ¡°Do you see a lot of whip strikes?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Whisht, you. Finn, are you sure it was a whip and not a club?¡±


    ¡°I had a real close look,¡± Finn said. ¡°It was a whip, long and made of bone. Its handle was that hard, too.¡± He rubbed the back of his head.


    ¡°Bone could do this, I suppose,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to ya. This will sting.¡±


    She pulled the linen from the bowl, folded it and dabbed the center of the bruise. Finn inhaled and exhaled through gritted teeth.


    ¡°A couple of days of this, that¡¯s all,¡± the widow said. ¡°We¡¯ve got enough linen¡ª¡±


    Donal¡¯s chair fell backwards to the floor as he sprang to his feet. The eyes of everyone in the room rose from it to his face.


    ¡°¡®That¡¯s all?¡¯¡±


    Donal had seized the floor without a plan. He had only this brief moment of surprise to devise one and it wasn¡¯t long enough. Mrs. MacSweeney¡¯s polite grin dropped and showed Donal the face of someone unaccustomed to interruption.


    G¡¯wan, Donal, he told himself. They¡¯re not going to stop and listen to you again if you don¡¯t.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. MacSweeney. I mean no disrespect. But my brother should be dead.¡±


    He put a reassuring hand on Finn¡¯s shoulder to maintain his momentum.


    ¡°You call the headless thing a ¡®dullahan¡¯ like he¡¯s an oul¡¯ fella selling vegetables at the fair. You three know things we don¡¯t and it¡¯s time you stop talking around it and tell us straight. What is happening?¡±


    Mrs. MacSweeney and Siobhan looked at Murrough. The old man stared at Donal, likely measuring his next words with care.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just those three,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I know what a dullahan is. I have no idea why it¡¯s up and about in the world, but I¡¯ve read about them before.¡±


    ¡°Grand,¡± Donal said. ¡°What¡¯s it doing here, Murrough?¡±


    Murrough sighed and patted his knees with his hands.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to go back a long, long way,¡± he said. ¡°Lest you interrupt every explanation by asking for more explanations. Are we clear?¡±


    Donal reached back and tipped his chair upright.


    ¡°Get on with it.¡±


    ¡°Finn,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Tell us about the six waves of invasions.¡±


    Donal shifted in his seat. Finn wrinkled his nose at the unexpected request.


    ¡°What does the Lebor Gab¨¢la have to do with this?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I did say I was going back a long way,¡± Murrough said. ¡°The basics, if you please.¡±


    ¡°First, there was Cesair,¡± Finn said. ¡°Granddaughter of Noah. She wasn¡¯t allowed on the Ark, so she led dozens of people in three ships as far west as they could go, which was here.¡±


    Finn¡¯s retelling was fitful with stops and starts. Donal never asked him about his studies and it was clear Finn gave them little thought over the past three years.


    ¡°The story says they were mostly women and three men: her father, Bith; her future husband, Fint¨¢n; and a third. They were meant to repopulate the world. After two of the men died, Fint¨¢n wilted from the task and turned himself into a salmon. Cesair died of heartbreak and the rest drowned in a flood, save for a woman named Banba. Right?¡±


    ¡°Very good,¡± said Murrough. ¡°How about the Parthol¨®nians?¡±


    ¡°They landed right here in Tyrconnell, traveling from Greece. It says they cleared four plains and burst seven lakes from the ground. They were the first to fight the Fomori. They lived here more than 500 years, then all 9,000 of them¡ªagain, save for one person¡ªdied in a plague within one week.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess: he turned himself into a fish?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°He did not,¡± Finn said. ¡°The man was a bogger and went feral for a few decades. He watched from a cave as the next wave of people arrived.¡±


    ¡°Good. That¡¯d be too much of a coincidence if he did.¡±


    ¡°He did turn into a stag later,¡± Murrough said. ¡°But it¡¯s unclear if he did that by himself.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I asked.¡±


    Finn settled into his rhythm.


    ¡°Nemed and his people came next. They left Scythia in 44 ships; only one arrived here intact. They cleared more plains, burst more lakes. They defeated the Fomori in three major battles but lost the fourth. After that battle they were forced to pay an embarrassing tribute once a year. Eventually they revolted and razed the raiders¡¯ tower on Tory Island, slaying the Fomori champion. The Nemedians paid dearly, though. What few survived that battle scattered in many directions.¡±


    ¡°Would you please take over?¡± he asked Murrough.


    ¡°Soon, but not yet,¡± Murrough said, a broad smile across his face. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine.¡±


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, some of the Nemedians that fled made it all the way to Greece, of all places,¡± Finn continued. ¡°There they were treated poorly and made to carry dirt in bags for more than two hundred years. One story says they turned those bags into boats and returned. Their rule was not long. These Men of Bags ruled for only a few decades before they were defeated.¡±


    ¡°¡®Men of Bags?¡¯¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°¡®Fir Bolg,¡¯ to be precise. They were defeated by the Tuatha D¨¦ Danann, most well known of the invaders,¡± Finn said, glancing at Murrough. ¡°I¡¯ve read a few tellings. The Tuatha D¨¦ is considered to be a wide array of gods in all of them. Not terribly dissimilar to the one worshiped by the Norsemen down in Dublin.¡±


    Murrough interrupted Finn with a raised hand.


    ¡°The difference,¡± he said, ¡°is that we know the tales of our ¡®gods,¡¯ for the lack of a better term, have some truth behind them.¡±


    Donal looked from the widow to Siobhan. Neither woman showed any signs of incredulity at Murrough¡¯s statement. Finn, however, looked at his uncle as if an arm had sprouted from his ear.


    ¡°G¡¯way with that, uncle.¡± Donal said. ¡°I¡¯m never going to get a straight answer if you keep that up.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth. Well, mostly.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to sit there and tell us that the Lebor Gab¨¢la is real?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Mistakes and exaggerations grew as the tales were told down through our generations. Then the monks took them and tried to line them up with the Bible¡¯s timeline. That¡¯s why we have different tellings of the same events. The Book of Invasions and our other folk tales aren¡¯t true as they¡¯ve been written. But there is more truth behind them than most believe.¡±


    Finn turned his head sideways, away from Murrough, as his uncle continued.


    ¡°The Tuatha D¨¦ traveled from the north shrouded in smoke,¡± Murrough said. They defeated the Fir Bolg down near Sligo town.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯re Norseman,¡± says Donal. ¡°Fierce, sure, but nothing godlike to ¡®em.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± said Murrough. ¡°Some know them today as fairy folk, or the ¡®Aos S¨ª.¡¯ They came here from the north. However, the place from which they left is another land entirely, one of the Otherworlds.¡±


    ¡°Otherworlds, as in more than one?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Are you talking about ¡®T¨ªr na n¨®g?¡¯¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a T¨ªr N¨®g?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Otherworld,¡± Finn said. ¡°As believed by the old druids.¡±


    ¡°The Tuatha D¨¦ came from T¨ªr na n¨®g,¡± Murrough said. ¡°But there are others. Some are easier to access, some lands such as T¨ªr na n¨®g can only be reached in specific places. There are islands south of Iceland, named after our people, and the Tuatha D¨¦ crossed into our world there.¡±


    Finn looked unimpressed. ¡°The Dagda, The Morrigan, C¨² Chulainn¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªtheir ancestors, their magic, their enemies,¡± said Murrough. ¡°All real.¡±


    ¡°Suppose I believe you,¡± Finn said. ¡°What bearing does all this have on what happened tonight?¡±


    ¡°As I said, there are details that have been lost or exaggerated over time. We know about many famous children and grandchildren of the Tuatha D¨¦ and similar tales, but not all. Some we lose track of, some we never knew.¡±


    ¡°When the core of Tuatha D¨¦ were defeated by the invasion of man, they retreated to places like T¨ªr na n¨®g. Still, some children and half-children remained here in Ireland living unassuming lives. Over time, many of these descendants became unaware of their connection to their otherworldly ancestors.¡±


    ¡°Many, but not all,¡± Mrs. MacSweeney said with a nod to Murrough.


    ¡°Hang on, are you three some of those people?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Who, then? How do you know?¡±


    ¡°My own family¡ªthe O¡¯Donnells¡ªgo back centuries,¡± the widow said, throwing a thumb over her shoulder toward the shelf of books. ¡°Some of our families have been blessed in keeping our druidic roots. Mr. MacSweeney, on the other hand, can trace his kin back to Tuireann.¡±


    Donal waited for the widow to elaborate. When she did not, he looked to her daughter.


    ¡°He had control over thunder and lightning,¡± Siobhan said.


    Donal¡¯s stomach felt like it dropped through his chair and onto the floor. He held up a finger until the words that spun around his head settled and then waved that finger at Siobhan when they did.


    ¡°It was you at the tomb! That wasn¡¯t a coincidence, you made the thunder that knocked the dullahan backwards!¡±


    Siobhan beamed. ¡°Now you¡¯re getting it.¡±


    ¡°But how?¡±


    ¡°A little bit of my mam¡¯s side, a little bit of my dad¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯re back to cryptic answers. Grand.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll get to that shortly,¡± Murrough said. ¡°But now we¡¯ve arrived at the point where we can tell you your place in all of this. You two descended from the Tuatha D¨¦ yourselves.¡±


    ¡°You think so?¡± said Donal. ¡°Who, or what?¡±


    ¡°Lugh, of the Long Arm,¡± Murrough said. ¡°On your mother¡¯s side.¡±


    Finn scoffed. ¡°¡®Lugh,¡¯ of all people, he says. Uncle, passing down these tales as part of our culture is one thing, but treating them as anything more than that is foolish.¡±


    Siobhan crossed her arms, pulling the bandage away from his wound for a moment. ¡°You think so? Describe what happened to you without sounding ¡®foolish.¡¯¡±


    Finn flopped his hands about as he sought an answer. After a half-minute of stammering, his answer clicked.


    ¡°I was involved in a single wayward encounter with something that may or may not be a spirit. You¡¯re telling me that otherworlds and our mythological heroes are real? And people have secretly passed down supernatural abilities for a few thousand years? On top of all of that, a couple of nobody farmers like Donal and I are descended from Lugh Lamhfada?¡±


    ¡°Oi, speak for yourself!¡± Donal said.


    Finn had been through a lot tonight but Donal didn¡¯t like being dragged into such a miserable portrayal.


    ¡°Better yet, stop speaking altogether.¡±


    ¡°Donal, you¡¯re falling for this? Figures.¡±


    ¡°Finn, it¡¯s been a long, trying night,¡± said Murrough. ¡°Maybe you should go out to the wagon and bring in some of the things Donal packed.¡±


    ¡°Uncle,¡± Finn said, ¡°If this is supposed to be true, then¡ª¡±


    Siobhan swung around into his eyeline.


    ¡°Finn, please,¡± she said. ¡°At least do it for the fresh air. You two are sleeping here tonight.¡±


    Finn looked in disbelief at Mrs. MacSweeney, then Murrough. He shook his head and walked out of the house holding his vest, leaving several minutes of silence behind him. Mrs. MacSweeney took the silence as a cue to disappear into the storage room. Siobhan cleaned up the ingredients and extra linen.


    ¡°I have questions,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about this Lugh guy?¡±


    ¡°Lugh is one the Tuatha D¨¦¡¯s greatest heroes.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like they had their fair share,¡± Donal said. ¡°What made him so special?¡±


    ¡°When Lugh finally came to Tara to join the king¡¯s court,¡± Murrough said, ¡°A guard stopped him and said, ¡®Only those useful to King Nuada may pass.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Lugh told the guard, ¡®I am a fierce warrior, masterful in single combat.¡¯ The guard replied, ¡®We have many warriors, all skilled in single combat.¡¯¡±


    ¡°He said, ¡®I am a master of strategy.¡¯ The guard said, ¡®The king himself is a master of that as well.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Lugh said, ¡®I am a smith, skillful in working with all metals.¡¯ ¡®And we have Goibniu, the greatest with silver, bronze, steel and all other metals,¡¯ the guard said.¡±


    ¡°¡®Surely you¡¯re in need of a shipwright,¡¯ Lugh said. ¡®I was trained by Manannan mac Lir.¡¯ ¡®Sure, I know him well,¡¯ the guard said, ¡®for he¡¯s already here with the king.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Lugh told the guard, ¡®I am a bard well versed in lore and history.¡¯ The guard said, ¡®We have none other than Ogma himself for that.¡±


    ¡°¡®Do you have anyone as skilled as I in magic and sorcery?¡¯ Lugh asked. ¡®We have The Morrigan, Mathgen the sorcerer and the queen of the druids, Druanthia.¡¯¡±


    ¡°¡®I¡¯m a skilled healer,¡¯ Lugh said. ¡®I can heal all ills.¡¯ The guard told him, ¡®Your own granddad, Diancecht, is our healer, greatest in the land.¡¯¡±


    ¡°¡®Lugh told the guard, ¡®Fine, fine. You do have wonderful masters in all of these separate skills. But do this for me: go to your king and ask him if he has anyone who is a master in all of them.¡¯ The guard did as he asked. The king agreed that he did not, in fact, have someone like that, and he agreed to let Lugh into his court.¡¯¡±


    Donal leaned back in his chair and mulled his uncle¡¯s story over.


    ¡°Could Lugh do those things, or was he feeding the guard a line?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The tales say he could do that and more,¡± Murrough said. ¡°That story is longer than what I told. I left out several parts about his carpentry, poetry and music.¡±


    ¡°What about these ¡®Fomori?¡¯ Finn mentioned them a few times. Were they living here the whole time?¡±


    ¡°Quite the opposite,¡± Murrough said. ¡°They were raiders from the sea, though they spent a great deal of time living on Tory Island. Some of them were monstrous in appearance, like their leaders Cichol and Balor. Many looked human, more or less. They, too, came from otherworlds. They, too, had unnatural abilities and they, too, have descendants among men.¡±


    ¡°Is the dullahan a Fomori?¡±


    ¡°It is not, but it was they who summoned it. We think they¡¯re behind other incidents, too.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®we?¡¯¡±


    ¡°There are a few dozen of us throughout the island that we know of. A handful of us here in Tyrconnell. Niall MacRannell, for one.¡±


    ¡°Niall, really? Who¡¯s his kin?¡±


    ¡°Nuada, of the Silver Hand.¡±


    ¡°Is he related to our Long Arm guy?¡±


    Murrough chuckled.


    ¡°You¡¯d think so, but he was not. You¡¯ll meet two more of us when we head to Dunfanaghy tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you had me pack.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to be gone for a while,¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°Is this Lugh business the reason I was able to toss that knife so far and hurt the dullahan?¡± Donal asked Siobhan.


    ¡°Mostly. Dullahans are vulnerable to golden weapons. I also put a tad extra on the knife before I handed it to you. Luckily for me you took care of the rest.¡±


    ¡°Is it the same ¡®tad extra¡¯ that you put on your walking stick when you were fighting that thing?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But in light of what you¡¯ve learned, do you still think this is a mere walking stick?¡±

 7) Role Reversal / Departure / Siobhans intentions

    Donal stepped down from the threshold into the MacSweeneys¡¯ darkened front yard.


    ¡°Did you get lost?¡± he asked his brother.


    Finn sat in the back of the wagon, his legs draped over the edge. Only a slight shift of his head gave any clue that he heard Donal. The younger brother stepped toward him in small increments.


    ¡°Are you hurt bad?¡±


    ¡°I am not,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Are you scared?¡±


    ¡°I am not.¡±


    ¡°Are you mad?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°What is it, then? Give me something. I don¡¯t like being on this side of the conversation.¡±


    A smirk formed on Finn¡¯s face. Donal suspected it had to fight its way to the surface.


    ¡°Hold onto that memory, would you?¡± Finn said.


    Donal laughed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it, though. Save for Murrough, you¡¯re the most knowledgeable person around when it comes to legends, myths and history. You used to live and breathe this stuff. Now your uncle is telling you it¡¯s real and you want nothing to do with it?¡±


    ¡°Maybe if Murrough came at me with this business when Mam and Da were alive I¡¯d be eating it up, same as you. But I have heard and read many stories, and not one involves a boy and a book-reading farmer saving anybody from anything.¡±


    Finn furrowed his brow at Donal.


    ¡°Oi, I remember when you were younger you literally ran away from Murrough and I when we started talking about history and culture. Why are you so raring to go along with this?¡±


    ¡°The more those three talk about what happened today,¡± Donal said, ¡°the easier all the odd-shaped pieces in my mind fit together. I can¡¯t explain it any better than that. Besides, I have to believe some small part of this is causing my nightmares. Do you think I should go back in and ask Murrough about them?¡±


    ¡°Not in front of Siobhan and her mam,¡± Finn said. ¡°Admitting that you¡¯re seeing things in the daytime isn¡¯t something to freely share with even friends. To be honest, part of me wishes you hadn¡¯t told me. Now that someone else knows, you can¡¯t deny it from yourself anymore. We¡¯ll tell him when it¡¯s just us. Deal?¡±


    ¡°On one condition,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°You¡¯re joking. What is it?¡±


    ¡°Come with us to Dunfanaghy. If you¡¯re able to prove me wrong, then we come right back here to keep watching all the stuff that won¡¯t grow. But if they¡¯re right¡ªif I¡¯m right¡ªthen we have to see this thing through.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°Come on, grab our stuff like Murrough told you.¡±


    ¡°By the way,¡± said Finn. ¡°Why did you pack my one good leine shirt for a trip like this? Are you going to be the one to wash it when it gets dirty?¡±


    Donal stared at his brother. After everything that¡¯s happened, this would be the dumbest argument he¡¯s had all day.


    Finn¡¯s smirk slipped through. ¡°Just coddin¡¯ ya. We¡¯ll deal with that, too, when the time comes.¡± He tossed one of the bags toward Donal in an arc high enough to bounce off his face before it dropped into his arms.


    ****


    Siobhan yanked a pillow from under Finn¡¯s head.


    ¡°Time to go!¡±


    His head dropped to the floor, the dull thud sounding worse than the impact felt. He raised his head to confirm the front door that stood at his feet remained closed.


    ¡°Too good to share a bed with your little brother?¡± Siobhan asked.


    She had retired to her room by the time Finn settled in for the night. Curls of red copper reached for the floor as she stooped over him and framed a grin wide enough to wrinkle her eyes and nose. Her eyes appeared amused by her finding.


    ¡°Or was his thrashing keeping you awake?¡±


    ¡°Neither,¡± said Finn. ¡°I merely wanted to make sure that I heard the dullahan coming if for some reason he found us.¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s grin opened up into a smile that separated her square jaw from the rest of her head. ¡°Nice to know I possess more stealth than a demon of the night!¡±


    She flipped Finn¡¯s pillow onto his face.


    ¡°Murrough, too, it would seem.¡±


    ¡°Dya¡¯mean by that?¡± Finn said, batting the pillow out of the way.


    ¡°He stepped right over your watchful self on the way out earlier this morning.¡±


    Finn sat upright and threw off his blanket to better view the room stirring behind him. The flourish revealed his fresh change of clothes to Siobhan.


    ¡°Look at you,¡± she said, her smile widening even further. ¡°The symbol of vigilance.¡±


    From anyone else, Finn would have taken the exchange as mocking. He resumed his scan of the room. Donal was finishing his meal. To most he would appear fine but Finn marked the darkened rings under his brother¡¯s thousand-foot stare. Mrs. MacSweeney and Siobhan¡¯s older brother were loading bags with food and supplies. Murrough was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°There¡¯s still some breakfast left in the pot,¡± Mrs. MacSweeney said. ¡°You¡¯re going to need it today. Shivvy, stop playing and help us out.¡±


    Finally, a chance to knock his tormentor off-balance.


    ¡°Did she just call you ¡®Shivvy?¡¯¡± he asked. ¡°You heard the lady, Shivvy. Get to it!¡±


    Siobhan frowned at the back of her mother¡¯s head. The grin returned as she stood up, though covered by inverted brows. ¡°How about you mind your business and eat, Finny?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t even make sense!¡± Finn said. ¡°My name¡¯s already just one syllable.¡±


    He dished up his breakfast and grumbled all the way to the table. He glared at his brother¡¯s broad grin.


    ¡°Not a word,¡± Finn said.


    Faint hoofbeats emerged toward the front of the house. Finn¡¯s shoulders tightened and his head whipped toward the front door.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°That¡¯s himself returning,¡± Siobhan said, confirming with a glance out the window. ¡°Eat up; no sense staring at the door until it opens.¡±


    The hoofbeats drew closer and stopped. Murrough entered through the door as casually as any other day.


    ¡°I asked around the Crossroads, Gortahork, and Ards Beg. No reports of the dullahan in the last few hours. The trip east looks clear for now. We should finish loading and leave soon.¡±


    Donal joined the others in shuttling bags and small crates from the house to Murrough¡¯s wagon. Finn shoveled the rest of his porridge into his mouth, grabbed his things and headed out onto the lawn.


    ¡°Why so much stuff?¡± Donal asked. ¡°I don¡¯t remember needing so much stuff just to get us to your home in Dunfanaghy.¡±


    ¡°Going somewhere and staying somewhere are two different things,¡± Murrough said.


    Donal shrugged and resumed his work.


    Finn threw his bag in the back and glanced out to sea. The cover over Tory Island had thickened, its color darkened to an iron grey. The tops of two towers poked through top, barren stone tree trunks craning to reach sunlight. Finn¡¯s eyes traced its extent southward.


    ¡°Uncle, has the fog always run that close to Inishbeg?¡± He pointed to the coast. The gloom encroached the five miles that lay between Tory Island and Inishbeg, the northernmost of three islands that extended from shore. The middle island of the chain looked unseasonably white.


    ¡°Are those all gulls covering Inishdooey?¡±


    ¡°And every other bird that flies around Tory and Inishbeg, it would seem,¡± Murrough said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s causing it yet, but it is growing and it¡¯s not natural.¡±


    Siobhan gave her mother and brother a hug as Donal put the final bag in the wagon. Mrs. MacSweeney took Finn¡¯s hand in both of hers. ¡°You boys stay safe. Listen to Murrough and Shiv¡ªSiobhan.¡±


    She caught herself at the first hint of Finn¡¯s smirk.


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t believe us, they¡¯ll still keep you safe.¡±


    The widow surprised Donal with a hug, but he leaned into it.


    ¡°Thank you for the food,¡± he said.


    The quartet walked to the wagon. Siobhan caught Donal stepping up to the front seat next to Murrough.


    ¡°Not bloody likely,¡± she said.


    He glared at her before climbing over the bags to sit in the back next to his brother. Finn waved to the pair standing in front of the house.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t your brother coming?¡± Finn asked Siobhan. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt to have an extra body if we really are in trouble¡ªespecially if he¡¯s supposed to be a druid.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not a druid,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Not everyone in a family has the same ability. Some don¡¯t have any. He¡¯s staying behind to take over the tasks Mam makes me do.¡±


    ¡°Besides, how miserable of a trip would it be if you had to take your brother in tow?¡±


    ¡°Very miserable,¡± Donal said from the side.


    ****


    ¡°This trip is taking too long,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°How would you know?¡± Finn asked. ¡°You¡¯re always asleep by this point.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been riding for two hours and only now are we leaving the Crossroads.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been almost one hour, and this is Carrowcannon. Crossroads have come and gone.¡±


    Donal searched north and south for familiar landmarks. The roadsides leaving town were overgrown, though less dense than the roads closer to home. Breaks in the treeline offered glimpses of meadows and grazing fields. The novelty left him after the third bend in the road revealed the same landscape as the previous two.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how the rest of you stay awake,¡± he said. ¡°Murrough included.¡±


    ¡°I figure every trip longer than a half-mile has at least one section that¡¯s monotonous.¡± Finn said. ¡°One you have to endure. Sometimes it¡¯s near the start, sometimes it¡¯s the end¡ªif it¡¯s a round trip it will be both.¡±


    Donal nodded, and turned his attention within the wagon. Driving was the only time Murrough hunched like a man his age. He had not turned his head once to check on the cargo area since they departed and rarely glanced to his side at Siobhan.


    Siobhan¡¯s gaze wandered in every direction. Donal first suspected her behavior was out of paranoia but he found no sequence or rhythm to her movements. Each turn of her head was as casual as the expression on her face, save for her eyes. They seemed to alternate between the near and far distances, never stopping in the middle. Whatever she was doing, she was focused and present.


    It likely was the reason she locked eyes with Donal after she caught him looking at her twice in quick succession.


    ¡°Something on your mind?¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand,¡± Donal said. ¡°How did you create lightning out of nothing?¡±


    Siobhan put a bracing hand on Murrough¡¯s shoulder and slid over the cargo, forming a triangle between the three passengers in the rear.


    ¡°It was thunder, actually. Either way, I did not ¡®create¡¯ it like everything else in this world is created. It is more of an exchange. To produce that thunder, I had to pull energy from another plane, and in turn send some of our energy back in return.¡±


    Donal nodded as if he understood even if it didn¡¯t appear to fool Siobhan. Finn stared into the middle distance over Donal¡¯s shoulder, his face blank.


    ¡°I lost you,¡± she said. ¡°Sorry, these talks are usually done in a place less¡­ mobile. You have to remember that there are other ¡®lands¡¯ and other ¡®planes.¡¯ T¨ªr na n¨®g and T¨ªr na Beo¡ªthose are separate worlds in their own locations.¡±


    ¡°Planes are much like the world around us now. They sit in the precise spot our world does, shifted ever so slightly and humming in their own ways. They will not be exact copies of our world, but some are very similar. Each plane has a special kind of energy to it. Druids like myself pull energy from a plane called Mag Argetnel, or the Plane of the Silver Clouds.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by putting some back?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Everything requires a balance. Life and death, summer and winter, high and low tides¡ªit does not matter. What you pull from another plane, you must give that much back. In time the energy you exchanged blends with their new planes. It is like water in a way. Water rains from the sky, flows into a lake, turns into vapor and blends in the sky. Or how air fuels a fire and its little bits of smoke blend back into the air.¡±


    ¡°So when I threw the knife, did I do any of that?¡± Donal asked.


    Finn¡¯s raised eyebrow betrayed an otherwise disinterested face.


    ¡°You might remember I was busy, so I didn¡¯t see how you threw it. It¡¯s likely you did some sort of magic¡ªeven if it was by accident or dumb luck.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t push anything back.¡±


    ¡°You did, but that¡¯s mostly where luck comes into play. I ran past the spot where you stood. If you had not completed the exchange, I would have felt it. You likely would have felt it.¡±


    ¡°There are consequences to not completing the push,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Most of the time it happens by accident while someone is learning how to do it so a teacher is there to help fix any problems. There are rare times where someone doesn¡¯t complete the transfer for the purposes of dark magic.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s something I can learn?¡± Donal said. His eyes widened as he leaned toward Siobhan. ¡°You¡¯re going to teach me, right?¡±


    ¡°Some of those descended from the Tuatha D¨¦ and the Fomori¡ªS¨ªlrad D¨¦ithe and S¨ªlrad D¨ªberg, as they are sometimes called¡ªhave these abilities,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But not all do, and no amount of teaching will change that. You two were supposed to have this talk and be tested several years ago. It never happened because¡ª¡±


    Donal nodded. He leaned back and stared at his feet, waiting for Siobhan to gather her thoughts.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that convenient?¡±


    Siobhan and Donal turned their heads in unison toward Finn.


    ¡°Ex-Excuse me?¡± she said.


    Murrough¡¯s back stiffened, though he did not turn an ear toward the back.


    ¡°Our parents didn¡¯t mention a single word about this for 17 years,¡± Finn said, ¡°and that¡¯s when my brother and I were supposed to find out? Pretty convenient if you ask me.¡±


    ¡°We¡ª¡± Siobhan started.


    ¡°¡ªAnd then yourself, daughter of a man that never had a care for our parents or a kind word for us, pops in for visits full of small talk and pleasantries, laughing, joking like we were lifelong neighbors.¡±


    ¡°So either you matched things up to your own timeline to take advantage of us,¡± Finn said, ¡°or, supposin¡¯ this is all true, you were keeping tabs on us just in case we might prove useful someday. Tell me, MacSweeney, which one is it?¡±


    Siobhan pivoted her body to Finn, nostrils flaring under reddening cheeks. It now was a task to tell where her hair stopped and her face started.


    ¡°We knew at least one of you was likely s¨ªlrad, perhaps both,¡± she said. ¡°Murrough knew that your parents never spoke of it with you. Since you two chose to stay on your own, we knew there might come a day when you found out accidentally.¡±


    Her jaw did not move as she spoke. She bounced her index finger at him.


    ¡°Your poxy brain worked all that out yet somehow forgot the obvious. Did you forget that I lost my dad two years before you? He was a flawed man, sure, but he loved me and I him. I could fill three of these wagons with things you didn¡¯t know about him.¡±


    ¡°But I knew a bit about what you were going through and thought I could help. And did you ever stop to think that maybe I liked visiting you because¡­¡±


    Siobhan shook her head and her focus shifted to the landscape behind Finn¡¯s head. Finn looked in no rush to help her finish her thought. She glanced at Finn, then Donal, and sighed.


    ¡°In spite of everything that happened, you two were fun.¡±


    She looked at Finn for a reaction. He clenched his jaw and slammed his eyebrows so far down that they pushed his eyes to the floor of the cargo area.


    ¡°At least you used to be,¡± she said.


    She stood up and placed one hand on Murrough¡¯s back. She paused after placing the other hand on the seat, keeping the back of her head pointed toward the brothers.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking you had the right idea, Donal, sleeping through all those trips with that one.¡±


    Murrough shared a sympathetic glance with her as she climbed over the supplies and into the front. She fixed her eyes on the horizon, and from it they would not stray for the remainder of the trip.


    Donal leaned over and punched Finn in the arm. ¡°She was going to teach me, you eejit!¡±


    Finn rubbed his potential bruise.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± he said. ¡°She couldn¡¯t teach you much in a rolling wagon. What does she know, anyway? I¡¯m loads of fun.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a load, all right.¡± Donal said.

 8) The stone

    ¡°You missed your turn,¡± Donal said.


    Murrough¡¯s house slid past them on the right. It stood half of a mile across the bay from the town of Dunfanaghy, but the distance around the bay was three times that length. Compared to Ballyness back home, this bay had much more sand than it did water. Donal used to joke it would be quicker to walk across it into town during times of drought.


    ¡°I missed nothing,¡± Murrough said. ¡°We¡¯re going to Niall¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been gone and I don¡¯t want to spend much time cleaning.¡±


    Donal swung his head back to reexamine his uncle¡¯s house before distance obscured it. The flora impinged on his yard and neared the cottage itself.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± said Murrough, slowing the horse to a walk. They turned right down Niall¡¯s private road.


    Niall was Murrough¡¯s neighbor and closest friend. Murrough would bring the boys to his house once a month in the years following their parents¡¯ death. Niall would join them for at least one meal. Today would be the second time the boys stepped foot in Niall¡¯s house.


    Niall¡¯s home was smaller than the MacSweeney home but he had little need for the space. His wife died less than a year after their marriage and he never courted another¡ªat least to Donal¡¯s knowledge. To the left, stables housed his three horses with an empty stall on the end. A line of three wagons of differing sizes waited between the stables and the house. Donal didn¡¯t recognize the fourth horse tied to a post near the front door.


    The wagon rolled to a stop. Donal couldn¡¯t get out fast enough. Finn and Siobhan fought, but he was the one that suffered. Two hours of quiet was more than enough time for the Shadow to chip away at him.


    Finn¡¯s right, it had told him. You¡¯re a couple of nothings from nowhere. Even if the land needs saving it won¡¯t be you two that do it. Murrough and Niall likely brought you here to tend to their homes while they¡¯re off being heroes.


    Fortunately for Donal, the rolling countryside offered enough distraction when his heart started to drop.


    Finn jogged after Siobhan as they climbed out of their respective ends of the wagon.


    ¡°Come here to me,¡± he said. ¡°It wasn¡¯t right what I said. I didn¡¯t mean it. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    ¡°You hope so?¡± Siobhan said. ¡°It was over the line. What¡¯s more, I think you meant a little of it.¡±


    She turned toward the house and narrowed her eyes at Donal for stopping to listen.


    ¡°Siobhan, please stop,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan halted but remained silent. She kept the two grooves above the bridge of her nose and her mouth turned down, even if Finn couldn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°What can I do? How can I fix this?¡±


    Siobhan locked eyes with Donal and gave him a wink. Her face now labored to maintain her frown. Letting out a sigh that shrugged her shoulders, she turned back to Finn.


    ¡°You can ¡®fix¡¯ it by pulling the twig out of yer arse and listening to what we¡¯re saying,¡± she said. ¡°We haven¡¯t been there for you these past few years just to make fools of you now. Keep an open mind, will you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± he said.


    He put a hand on her shoulder as she turned away.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. ¡°For what you¡¯ve done for us. And I¡¯m sorry that it took this long to say it.¡±


    ¡°Oh. N-not at all.¡±


    Finn walked to Murrough, who was tying the horse to an empty post. Siobhan turned back toward the house. Her eyes grinned and a small bit of color returned to her face. Donal spun on his heel behind her.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Donal said. ¡°Were you not mad at him? Was this whole thing a play?¡±


    ¡°I was furious with him at first. And for a while.¡±


    ¡°But what was that about, just now?¡±


    ¡°I thought letting him understand the state of things on his own time would be faster than the series of arguments it would take for him to work past his pride and realize that, in this case, I was right.¡±


    ¡°Did you worry that he wouldn¡¯t come around?¡±


    ¡°A little,¡± she said. ¡°But it was a safe bet.¡±


    ¡°And where did you learn a trick like that?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Dealing with you,¡± she said.


    She ruffled his hair and hastened toward the house. Donal caught up to Siobhan in time to hear voices through an open window. Niall¡¯s stone-scuffed voice alternated with a woman¡¯s voice he could not place.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Donal asked Siobhan.


    The voices inside fell silent. Heavy footsteps neared the front door and it opened with a flourish, drawing their eyes to Niall¡¯s wide smirk.


    ¡°Finally,¡± he said to Siobhan. ¡°Murrough still drives a wagon like it¡¯s laden with eggs.¡±


    ¡°Good to see you too, Niall,¡± she said.


    She stepped inside and was ambushed by Niall¡¯s dog before she could greet his guest. His eyes shifted to Donal.


    ¡°How¡¯s your head, boyo?¡± he asked Donal. ¡°Is it spinning yet?¡±


    ¡°Happy to still have one,¡± Donal said.


    Niall twisted his head and doubled the wrinkles spanning his forehead, the latter a feat Donal thought impossible. He was told Niall was the same age as his parents, but he didn¡¯t believe it. His brown eyes glinted through two slits in a leather mask. His coarse hands could debark a tree with a single twist. Donal leaned in for a hug. Niall shook off his puzzled expression and wrapped Donal in his free arm.


    Donal slid past Niall and entered the house. The main room was clean and organized with very few frills. It had no open hearth, only one proper and wide fireplace with a chimney climbing the far wall. Swords and spears leaned against the right wall, inclined at similar angles and evenly spaced. Several cutting utensils laid in order of length on a bloodstained counter along the left wall. A lute laid across some stools in the corner.


    The sheep dog abandoned Siobhan for Donal. It reared back and rested its front paws on Donal¡¯s stomach, all the easier for him to stroke the dog¡¯s black-and-white spotted coat.


    Niall¡¯s guest sat at the table in the middle of the room. She had angled her seat away from the table to make room for the longbow that rested in her lap. Black waves cascaded from the top of her head in several directions. Her greeting to Siobhan was deep, breathy and curt. Donal guessed she was a few years older than Siobhan.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to interrupt,¡± Murrough asked as he followed Finn through the door.


    ¡°Just a little small talk,¡± Niall said.


    He threw a thumb in his guest¡¯s direction.


    ¡°This one was talking my leg off.¡±


    The woman rolled her eyes and turned her attention towards Finn as he grabbed a stool from the corner to join the rest at the table.


    ¡°Let¡¯s introduce everyone before riling the well-armed lady,¡± said Murrough. ¡°Finn and Donal MacLaughlin, meet Maeve O¡¯Connor.¡±


    Maeve dipped her chin briefly in Donal¡¯s general direction.


    ¡°How much do they know?¡± Niall asked Murrough.


    ¡°Little more than the basics,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Some of us are a bit more skeptical than others.¡±


    Murrough turned his hand in Finn¡¯s direction. Niall¡¯s lower jaw opened, pulling away his grin.


    ¡°You?¡± Niall said. ¡°I would have sworn you were a bard in the making. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The stories are fun, but they¡¯re just that¡ªstories,¡± Finn said.


    Finn caught Siobhan¡¯s eyes, her brows raised. Donal would have missed the expression had he not heard the conversation outside. Finn took a breath and slowed his delivery.


    ¡°I simply cannot see how a couple of random lads grasping to keep their farm afloat have a part to play in some ancient battle between godlike forces.¡±


    Finn checked back with Siobhan. She pushed up her bottom lip, gave her shoulders a slight shrug and nodded.


    Niall chuckled.


    ¡°¡®A couple of random farmers,¡¯ he says.¡±


    He looked at Murrough and received a nod in reply.


    ¡°One moment, if you please.¡±


    Niall pushed away from the table, walked across the floor and passed through a door on the right. A wooden drawer slid open and then shut. A key rattled in a padlock. The hinges of a chest creaked. Niall¡¯s shoes stepped toward the door.


    Niall returned into the room holding a piece of linen in both hands. He gestured to an open space in the room three feet from where he stood.


    ¡°Stand over there,¡± he said. ¡°Is Muiride tied up out front, Murrough?¡±


    Murrough nodded.


    ¡°Then here you go.¡±


    Niall dropped his hands to toss the contents of his hands underhanded toward Finn, but the linen remained in his hands. Instead, a stone the size of a child¡¯s fist flew at Finn, who caught it out of reflex.


    Donal¡¯s chair shook. The table shook. Spears and swords clattered to the ground. Knives slid off the dressing table. The lute fell off the remaining stools, sounding a dissonant chord as it hit the floor.


    Siobhan¡¯s face showed signs of curiosity but little panic. Maeve displayed the tops and bottoms of her brown irises and grabbed her chair bottom for bracing. The dog ran to the door and tried to claw it open. The five horses outside squealed and roared. Several interrupted hoofbeats sounded from the front yard; some of them were bucking.


    Finn looked to every corner of the room as if it had an answer. When it seemed he had run out of ideas or reasoning, he flung the stone back at Niall, who made a great effort to catch it in the linen. The shaking stopped and the sounds of unsettled horses outside the only clue remaining that this area had been disturbed.


    ¡°It would be easier on you and everyone if you would trust us,¡± Niall said to Finn. ¡°The things that others have set into motion will happen whether you believe them or not.¡±

 9) Relief

    ¡°What the devil was that?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°That,¡± Niall said, opening the linen to display the stone for effect, ¡°is the L¨ªa F¨¢il.¡±


    Donal looked at Finn.


    ¡°The Stone of Destiny,¡± said Finn. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to ¡®cry out¡¯ when it senses a king.¡±


    He looked at Niall asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s also supposed to be in Tara.¡±


    ¡°Most of it is,¡± Niall said. ¡°I¡¯m sure they told you that when the Tuatha D¨¦ came to our world through that portal up in Iceland, it was here in the northwest of Ireland where they landed. Not even the Tuatha D¨¦ are immune to accidents, and when they brought it on land this piece broke off. One of my ancestors was entrusted with this, and it¡¯s been handed down within the MacRannell family over countless generations.¡±


    ¡°So if I heard you proper,¡± Donal asked. ¡°Finn¡¯s going to be king? Just like that?¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Niall said. ¡°These days, it¡¯s as much a test of your ancestry as anything. Lugh became king after defeating the Fomori leader Balor. You two are his descendants. The L¨ªa F¨¢il reacted to that.¡±


    The gears in Donal¡¯s mind meshed. He looked down at his hands and looked at Niall with his eyes widened. Niall, needing no scholar to read the boy¡¯s face, threw the stone to Donal.


    The room shook once more. Donal¡¯s mouth dropped open, pinned up at the corners with only a smile. A surge of warmth flowed from his hands to his chest and then spread throughout his body. Confidence flooded his brain, washing away any fear or anxiety. The Shadow itself was nowhere to be found. He forgot how that felt: so much lighter, so much more at ease.


    ¡°Oi!¡±


    His surroundings blurred. Sounds blended into a din. He tossed the stone between each hand and felt the sensation ebb and flow in the moments when the stone hung in the air.


    ¡°Donal!¡± Niall yelled. ¡°That¡¯s enough, boyo.¡±


    Donal cleared his head with a shake and tossed the stone back to his host. Niall caught it in the cloth once more and carried it toward the side room. Donal¡¯s cheeks warmed as he remembered his audience. Each face told a different tale. Finn¡¯s eyes were narrowed but a soft smile had spread. Siobhan leaned back in her chair, shaking her head with a begrudged grin. Maeve¡¯s lip curled up toward a wrinkled nose. Though the expression didn¡¯t change Donal felt it swung like a pendulum between annoyed and confused with each second that passed. A gleam reflected from Murrough¡¯s squinting eyes above a broad smile that never parted his lips.


    ¡°Why were you so careful about using that cloth to hold the stone?¡± Donal asked as Niall emerged from the side room.


    Niall cocked his head and furrowed his brow before looking over at Finn.


    ¡°Do you not remember?¡± said Finn. ¡°Murrough said he¡¯s descended from Nuada.¡±


    ¡°And that means?¡±


    ¡°Nuada was a king of the Tuatha D¨¦ as well,¡± Finn said. ¡°The myths say he was king of the Tuatha D¨¦ when they landed on Ireland¡¯s shores. It would shake the house if he touched it as well.¡±


    Niall nodded.


    ¡°Indeed. And while I don¡¯t have the cleanest house, I¡¯d prefer it if I didn¡¯t have to pick up my things from the floor.¡±


    He stared at Donal until his target squirmed in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°All¡¯s forgiven when you pick up your mess.¡±


    Donal nodded and walked to the corner with the lyre and returned it to the stool tops. He followed the edges of the room, picking up each place that was cluttered. Murrough tapped Maeve and gestured for her to follow him outside.


    ¡°Help me settle the horses, would you?¡±


    Maeve shrugged and pushed herself up. The pair disappeared into the front yard.


    Finn rubbed the right side of his face and leaned towards the table. ¡°There¡¯s one question that you lot have yet to answer: Why now?¡±


    ¡°Which part?¡± Niall.


    ¡°All of it. I understand that losing Mam and Da would have thrown a wrench in these ¡®plans¡¯ of telling us. If all this is as you say, why didn¡¯t you tell us earlier? Like, ¡®Your great-great-great-great-grandad was a godly king,¡¯ or, ¡®Hey Finn, you may want to look out for headless fellas when going to the market.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Jokes aside, they¡¯re fair questions,¡± he said to Siobhan.


    ¡°Why did I get taken now?¡± Finn continued. ¡°If the Fomori wanted to take us¡ªfor whatever reason¡ªthe easiest time to do so was immediately after we lost our parents. We were reeling.¡±


    ¡°What gives you reason to think that they didn¡¯t try back then?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°It was the hardest time of my life,¡± Finn said. ¡°Still, I¡¯d like to think I¡¯d have noticed a thing like that following me around.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t speak to any dullahans, but people have been watching you these past few years,¡± Niall said. ¡°Waiting for the chance.¡±


    Donal dropped the spears he had gathered in his arms.


    ¡°We never saw anybody out of place,¡± Donal said. ¡°Not around home. Not in any of the towns. What stopped them?¡±


    ¡°Us, for one,¡± Niall said. ¡°The trips you took here with Murrough. The times he, or myself, visited you in between. Siobhan¡¯s monthly visits. There were times when myself, Maeve, and some others were nearby, visible enough to let those looking for you know you weren¡¯t alone.¡±


    ¡°But we were alone!¡± Donal said.


    He pointed to Finn.


    ¡°Your visits were short, so it was just Finn and myself most of the time. If you were out there, you could have come up to the door and invited yourself in. We¡¯d have been happy to have you, instead of being left alone with¡ª¡±


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Niall fell silent. Siobhan¡¯s eyes dropped to the floor. Donal¡¯s gut told him he went too far but a nod from Finn, his eyes glassy, buttressed his resolve. He calmed his tone.


    ¡°What was the benefit of keeping us at arm¡¯s length?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Good question,¡± Maeve said.


    She stepped aside, allowing Murrough to enter behind her. She locked eyes with Niall, seemingly unfazed by the glare he directed at her.


    Donal¡¯s cheeks warmed. He took a mindless step backward and knocked the re-stacked weapons to the floor once more. His cheeks now cooked and beads of sweat formed at the top of his forehead.


    ¡°None, as it turns out,¡± said Niall.


    ¡°What?¡± Donal asked. ¡°You¡¯re codding me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll learn as you grow that good intentions don¡¯t always make for good decisions. We knew that the S¨ªlrad D¨ªberg¡ªagain, Fomori¡ªwere monitoring us more than they ever had over the past several years. We thought the more attention we gave you, the more of their attention we¡¯d bring on you. Truth be told, we didn¡¯t know their full plan nor how far along they were.¡±


    Niall dropped his head. He filled his lungs through his nose and blew out his breath as he looked at the brothers without raising his head.


    ¡°If we had, we would have handled things differently.¡±


    Donal turned to his uncle.


    ¡°You went along with this?¡±


    ¡°Niall and I thought it the safest course. It was difficult, though.¡±


    Donal curled the corner of his lip in a sneer.


    ¡°Was it, now?¡±


    Finn looked at Donal¡¯s face and shot up.


    ¡°You said that you didn¡¯t know their plan,¡± Finn said. ¡°Does that mean you know it now?¡±


    Niall raised his head toward Finn.


    ¡°Bits,¡± he said. ¡°While traveling here, I trust you noticed most people are struggling to get food to grow. That¡¯s no accident or bad luck with the rain. Only a few in this whole province are getting anything meaningful out of the ground, and even that we suspect is intentional.¡±


    ¡°Is someone in charge, or is a bunch of ¡®em doing it in bits?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°They follow a man by the name of ¨¦amon Breaslin. His clan used to own land east of here in F¨¢naid before they were forced out and fled to Maguire lands to the south. It was before his time, but it never sat right with him, apparently.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s Fomori, right?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s actually S¨ªlrad Cummasc,¡± Niall said. ¡°There were those who had parents in both the Tuatha D¨¦ and the Fomori. He¡¯s descended from Bres, perhaps the Tuatha D¨¦¡¯s most infamous king. He had a parent from both sides.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Finn said. ¡°Fomori fought everybody, especially the Tuatha D¨¦. Why would they start families together?¡±


    ¡°Life is never that simple,¡± Niall said. ¡°Sometimes it happened in unfortunate ways, but sometimes other families grew in unexpected ways. After all, Lugh¡¯s mother herself was a Fomori.¡±


    ¡°So are Donal and myself S¨ªlrad D¨¦ithe, or S¨ªlrad Cummasc?¡± Finn asked. ¡°And why are we messing around with the old tongue, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Cummasc. But those are formal definitions,¡± Niall said. ¡°When it comes down to it, all s¨ªlrad ultimately choose a side, if it hasn¡¯t chosen them first. Few waver between the ¡®Fomori¡¯ and the ¡®Tuatha D¨¦.¡¯¡±


    Finn nodded. Behind his eyes sat a mind spinning with questions but he remained silent. Siobhan and Murrough studied his face, likely waiting for the next barrage of questions. Maeve twirled her bow around the point that rested on the floor.


    ¡°Answer me this,¡± Donal said. ¡°What does this Breaslin stand to gain from everybody going hungry?¡±


    ¡°A few things,¡± Niall said. ¡°If his sympathizers are the only people growing food, they can charge more. Also, whenever resources like food are scarce, people panic. The clans get restless. It¡¯s easier to agitate them into fighting each other.¡±


    ¡°Remember we¡¯re still a very superstitious lot,¡± he said. ¡°If his people are the ones prospering, it draws more people to his cause. Balor is considered by most Irish the ultimate villain in our old tales of the Tuatha D¨¦. Here in Tyrconnell, though, he¡¯s not always seen that way. If you take all these individual things and combine them, you get Breaslin, aspiring hero of the people.¡±


    ¡°Even though some random people¡¯s lives are left in rag order for it,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Low rungs on a ladder,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Forgotten by the time he reaches the top.¡±


    ¡°How do we stop him?¡± Donal asked.


    Finn¡¯s head turned in his direction, but Donal kept his brother¡¯s reaction in the periphery without acknowledgment.


    ¡°We have to find out how he caused the blight, and what he¡¯s doing to perpetuate it,¡± Niall said. ¡°The easiest way to affect so many in less than a year would be the use of an item with top-tier magic.¡±


    He waved his hand in a flourish.


    ¡°Something on the level of the four items of the Tuatha D¨¦, you see.¡±


    Donal had heard Murrough and Finn talk about these items several times before but never listened. He put on a knowing face and tried to nod in the same manner that Finn and Murrough used to do. In the blurry corner of Donal¡¯s line of sight Finn¡¯s head dropped. In front of him, Niall closed his eyes and exhaled.


    ¡°Is there anything you did teach this boy, McMennamin?¡± Niall asked.


    Murrough pointed an upward palm toward Finn.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t for our lack of trying, I can tell you that.¡±


    ¡°Give us another try, then,¡± Niall said.


    Murrough cleared his throat.


    ¡°The Tuatha D¨¦ didn¡¯t just come from a single city. They came from four different cities in their land before crossing over. From each city they brought a magical item to help them in this new land.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already held one of them¡ªor part of one,¡± he said. The L¨ªa F¨¢il came from the town of Falias. From Urias came the Sword of Light. From Finias the Spear of Assal. And from Murias they brought the Dagda¡¯s Cauldron.¡±


    ¡°Two weapons, a stone, and a cauldron,¡± Donal said. ¡°The weapons are obvious, even the stone I get. But a cauldron? Is it to brew potions and the like?¡±


    ¡°Most call The Dagda ¡®the good god,¡¯ Murrough said. ¡°By several measurements he was the father of the Tuatha D¨¦. He possessed several magical items, but none greater than his cauldron. Its supply of food could never be exhausted. Anyone who wanted for food never walked away from it hungry.¡±


    Still in Donal¡¯s periphery, Finn raised his head and leaned in his stool toward the table. Donal reluctantly locked eyes with his brother. Finn looked at him from under his eyebrows with a reserved smile on his face. A quick succession of memories flashed across Donal¡¯s mind, all of them moments in which Finn tried to teach him one thing or the other. Finn would talk Donal through whatever thing he was learning, stop before he spoke the answer and look at Donal exactly the way he did at that moment.


    Donal snapped his fingers.


    ¡°They took the cauldron and gave it a bad dose of something!¡±


    Siobhan and Murrough beamed back at him. Maeve shrugged her head to one side, glanced at Niall, and resumed spinning her bow on one tip.


    ¡°That¡¯s a fine thought,¡± Niall said. ¡°One we had as well. Unlike two of the other three items, however, we do know where the cauldron is. As of last week, it remains undisturbed.¡±


    Finn shook his head. He turned his head from the table with a slight roll and pointed his face toward a window.


    ¡°Then it must be one of the other three you mentioned,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Possible,¡± said Niall. ¡°But those three don¡¯t lend themselves to either starting or stopping a blight.¡±


    ¡°So now what do we do?¡± Donal asked.


    Niall chuckled.


    ¡°¡®We,¡¯ he says.¡±


    Donal threw a thumb in his brother¡¯s direction.


    ¡°And what does that mean?¡± he asked. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t drag us from Ballyness all the way to Dunfanaghy for our company.¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s laugh shook Finn from whatever held his gaze outside. He scowled at Donal.


    ¡°We brought you here to keep you close, away from harm,¡± Niall said. ¡°You¡¯re likely to come with us when we leave here the day after next. But that, too, is to keep you safe and where we can see you.¡±


    Donal leaned back to assess the blow to his pride. Finn looked at Niall with an expression similar to his, though Donal suspected it was for a very different reason. Siobhan looked at Niall. A bump sounded from below the table, causing the host to wince.


    ¡°Though we appreciate your eagerness,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°Where are we¡ªsorry, you¡ªgoing?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to head to a few spots to suss things out,¡± Niall said. ¡°We won¡¯t solve anything sitting around here gabbing.¡±


    Niall patted the table and stood up.


    ¡°But not tonight. You lads are going to spend the night at Murrough¡¯s.¡±


    He drew a circle in the air around the younger members of the group.


    ¡°Tomorrow the four of you will head into town early to gather some things, while himself and I catch up and plan the trip.¡±


    A fleeting image of the current state of Murrough¡¯s house popped into Donal¡¯s mind. He raised his arms in an exaggerated stretch and blended a fake yawn into the beginning of his next sentence.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going over to trim your yard, are we, uncle?¡± Donal asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t get my usual traveling nap.¡±


    Murrough smiled. ¡°That depends on what you say about my cooking.¡±

 10) Blame

    To call it a pathway would be a kindness.


    The area around Murrough¡¯s house was so thick with grass it looked more a balding field than an untended yard. One row of grass between the front door and the bay road stooped below the rest, the result of only occasional trodding. No fields had been planted and there were no additional paths that led to outbuildings or other locations on his land save for a small flattened area the size of a wagon. Murrough did two things here: arrive and leave.


    The mess outside faded into the back of Finn¡¯s mind as he stepped through the door into his uncle¡¯s home. It was smaller than his, Siobhan¡¯s or Niall¡¯s house. Not a single bit of trim or decoration was found around the windows or in the corners. The most impressive thing about Murrough¡¯s house was the six shelves that held books and scrolls above a writing desk in the corner.


    Finn went into the side room and tossed his bag up into the loft he shared with his brother during each visit and sat down in his usual chair. Donal and Murrough entered the house.


    Donal said little on the walk back from Niall¡¯s house. At one point Finn heard him mutter the word ¡°eagerness¡± with a sneer. He threw his bag into the loft and joined Finn at the table, ignoring his bag¡¯s bounce back to the main floor. His eyes stared at the table without a flutter; his brows twitched at random.


    Murrough walked over to the table and placed his hands on the back of the empty chair. He looked at the brothers and dropped his head.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you two a pair?¡± he asked.


    Finn looked at Murrough. Donal was unmoved.


    ¡°Donal here wants to run headfirst and fight everyone with only a loose grasp of who or why. Finn, you seem less inclined to believe all of this even after all you¡¯ve seen over the past two days.¡±


    He turned his head towards Donal.


    ¡°You¡¯re both struggling. But only one of you wants to admit it. Before we pass the point of no return, I want to make sure your heads are on straight.¡±


    Finn¡¯s promise to Siobhan of open-mindedness never strayed far from his mind and he was reluctant to break it. In truth, his mind was still open but there was something else from today¡¯s conversations that gnawed at him.


    ¡°All this effort to convince me that the Tuatha D¨¦ were real was meaningless,¡± Finn said. ¡°Niall said it himself: He doesn¡¯t think we can do it. None of you do. Whether or not I believe all this is irrelevant because in the end we¡¯re only here so you lot can protect us. We¡¯re two more sacks to throw in the wagon.¡±


    Finn looked at his brother and shook at his head in surprise at the expression that greeted him. Donal¡¯s head was red from forehead to neck, his dark eyes focused on Finn. Finn wondered if Donal was attempting to stare a hole right through him.


    Is this another one of ¡®those¡¯ moments? Finn asked himself.


    Murrough pulled out the chair on which he leaned and sat down.


    ¡°You made your thoughts on this clear earlier,¡± he said. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t change what is true. Four years ago, we noticed some people behaving oddly around Tyrconnell. Nothing specific or outlandish. An odd meeting in a pub in Raphoe. Months later, a stream of hooded figures entered a house in Donegal. A month after that several boats sailed to Tory Island under the cover of night. We didn¡¯t know what it meant, but that behavior stands out to most people. Eventually word would get to myself and other s¨ªlrad.¡±


    ¡°We lost track of their activity a month later because we were sent reeling after your parents¡¯ passing. It was an utter surprise to us all. They were such good and brave people.¡±


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Finn looked over at Donal. His eyes were glassy but he stuck with the conversation.


    ¡°They were the ones that told us about the movement toward Tory Island,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Before that point they were reluctant to tell you boys about your ancestry. I assumed it was because neither of you had shown signs of having your own magic yet and they didn¡¯t want to borrow trouble until they had no choice. But they were gone by that point, and you¡¯d been through so much that I didn¡¯t want to heap this on top of it. I was wrong, looking back at it.¡±


    ¡°You were not, uncle,¡± Donal said, his gaze never leaving Finn. ¡°Wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault but his! We¡¯d be better prepared if he hadn¡¯t locked me away and treated me like a child these past few years. You looked at him and knew he wasn¡¯t ready, so surely his little brother wasn¡¯t either. He kept me away when I could have been helping yourself, Niall and Siobhan!¡±


    Finn¡¯s head knew there was little truth behind what Donal was saying, but his heart was tired. The past two days were filled with assaults on his body and mind. He had little energy or desire to keep his shield arm high in front of him anymore.


    His mind cycled through choices he made on Donal¡¯s behalf over the past three years. He¡¯d change the decision and envision the idyllic world that he passed up until it was too much to bear and then cycle to the next decision in queue to repeat the process.


    ¡°I could have helped you slow the blight¡¯s spread¡ªmaybe even stopped it.¡±


    He lifted his chin toward Finn.


    ¡°But you made me play farmer when you didn¡¯t want to do it yourself. This is really all your fault, if you think about it!¡±


    Murrough slammed the table with enough force to render yelling unnecessary.


    ¡°Donal Murchadh, that is quite enough.¡±


    Murrough examined every inch of Finn¡¯s face in the silence.


    ¡°You boys have been through some terrible things together, but it was together,¡± he said. ¡°Donal, your brother is only a man¡ªa young one at that¡ªand he¡¯s had his whole world flipped upside down, same as you. Not just three years ago, but these past few days as well.¡±


    He raised his eyebrows to and stared at Donal, removed any curl from his lip and pointed a finger for effect. He dropped the pitch of his voice but removed all croak from his throat. His next words were deliberate and steady.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare blame him for trying to protect the one bit o¡¯ family he had left.¡±


    ¡°I did my best to help you,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I thought that meant letting you two find your way together, only jumping in to help when you asked. That might have been the wrong way, and if so, all I can do is apologize and hope you can overcome my shortcomings knowing it wasn¡¯t for a lack of love.¡±


    ¡°The fact is, I do think you both are ready. You¡¯re raw and have a lot to learn in a short time, but I know you lads. You¡¯ll get there. Together.¡±


    Donal clenched his jaw. He dropped his head, hiding his leaking eyes from Finn and Murrough. He squeezed the blood out of his fists and pushed on them to raise himself out of his chair. He spun toward the side room without a word and slammed the thin interior door behind him. The ladder creaked from low to high, followed by muffled thumps upon a pillow.


    Murrough looked upwards at the wall from where they heard the battered pillow. When the thrashing had ceased, he rested a hand on Finn¡¯s shoulder, securing his attention.


    ¡°You and I know better than anyone that your brother has been fighting a war within himself for years,¡± he said. ¡°Even when your parents were still here. It¡¯ll be a cold comfort but I need you to remember that these fits, these moments, are about his fight and not about you. There aren¡¯t many brothers that could have done what you have for him. He¡¯s going to need that and more before this business is done.¡±


    Murrough¡¯s face turned downward as he allowed his last words to linger.


    ¡°I wonder, strange as this sounds, if this could help him in some ways,¡± he said.


    ¡°How do you come by that?¡± Finn said.


    ¡°The boy needs a purpose. This fog that surrounds your brother leaves him thrashing about. He needs a far shore towards which to swim.¡±


    Finn scratched his forehead.


    ¡°How is he meant to see the far shore if he¡¯s surrounded by fog?¡±


    ¡°I believe that¡¯s a question Donal¡¯s spent years trying to answer himself. And he likely will need your help to find that, too.¡±


    The nightmares, Finn thought. We forgot to tell him while Donal was out here.


    ¡°Uncle,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Nephew?¡±


    ¡°About that,¡± Finn said.


    Finn looked at the door Donal slammed shut. This was his story to tell. If he and Murrough conferred about this without Donal, he¡¯d see it as an ambush and shut down. Donal had to start the conversation, and dragging him back into the room wasn¡¯t the way to go about it.


    ¡°Nevermind,¡± Finn said. ¡°It was nothing.¡±


    Murrough studied Finn¡¯s face. The longer that he did so, the harder it was for Finn to hold back. His uncle¡¯s head canted and nodded, his eyes remaining on Finn¡¯s.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold onto that so long that it becomes something,¡± he said.

 11) Getting the messages with Maeve / Trading intel

    ¡°Someone¡¯s coming,¡± Donal said. ¡°Is that the girls?¡±


    Donal ran to the window to greet the sound of a wagon approaching from the east. The trees and untended meadow on Murrough¡¯s property obscured anything on the road. He looked to the opening through which the wagon would enter the yard. His eyes drifted up to the sides of the mountains on Horn Head. What little sunlight broke through the pearl-colored clouds descended from the three highest peaks.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be them,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s too early.¡±


    ¡°We have, all of us, much to do,¡± Murrough said. ¡°And there are some things that are better acquired before prying eyes flood the market. Come back and finish your meal.¡±


    Donal slid past Finn without a word. He glanced at his brother¡¯s pillow and blanket lying in a corner. Sometime in the middle of the night Finn climbed into the loft to grab his bag and a pillow. He chose an uncovered floor over a shared bed with Donal. Finn finished his meal, grabbed his bag and left the cabin with a nod to Murrough.


    Donal shoveled the remainder of his bowl into his mouth and gulped it down. He climbed into the loft to get his bag.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget your bowl,¡± Murrough said. ¡°You can¡¯t leave it up there.¡±


    Donal dropped his bag to the floor below. His eyes lingered on the dinner bowl Murrough brought to him after he and Finn finished their meal in the main room. He descended from the loft and left last night¡¯s bowl on the table. He palmed a piece of buttered bread and shoved it into his mouth on his way out the door. He trusted Murrough understood the grain-hindered goodbye he shouted over his shoulder as he pushed through the grass.


    The clearing of the yard¡¯s entryway revealed Niall¡¯s largest wagon as it slowed to a halt. Siobhan loosened the reins and smiled at Finn as he circled around the back. Donal waved to Maeve in the other front seat. She dipped her chin toward him and scanned the road ahead. He threw his bag in the back and walked up to Maeve.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never ridden in the front of a wagon before,¡± Donal said.


    Maeve rolled her eyes at Siobhan¡¯s smirk.


    ¡°Told you,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°What¡¯s that have to do with me?¡± Maeve asked Donal.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I was just hoping you¡¯d let me ride in front,¡± Donal said.


    Maeve¡¯s face wasn¡¯t moved. He widened his smile.


    ¡°At least on the way to town, please?¡±


    Maeve closed her eyes and exhaled.


    ¡°Sure, boyo.¡±


    She placed her bow in her lap and swung her legs around the outside of the wagon until they pointed toward the rear. With a slight push from her hands she hopped over the supplies secured behind the front seat and squatted across from Finn. Siobhan leaned a hand over the side to pull her new seatmate up into the front.


    ¡°Where are we going first?¡± Donal asked Siobhan.


    ¡°The market square by the harbor,¡± she said. ¡°So long as it meets your approval?¡±


    ¡°What if I said otherwise?¡±


    Siobhan shook her head. She looked past Donal at Murrough stepping out of his cabin.


    ¡°Can we give you a ride back to Niall¡¯s first?¡± she asked. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why you three walked down here last night.¡±


    ¡°Reatha had a more comfortable night in Niall¡¯s stables than I had in my own bed,¡± Murrough said. ¡°And there¡¯s nothing like a morning walk along the bay this time of year.¡±


    ¡°Grand. We¡¯ll be back in a few hours,¡± she said.


    ¡°You remember how to get to your last stop?¡± Murrough asked.


    Siobhan pointed a thumb toward the back of the wagon.


    ¡°I do,¡± she said. ¡°And even if I forget, I know someone that can track him down.¡±


    Murrough laughed. Maeve glared at the back of her head.


    Siobhan fanned the reins and the group rolled west. The bay crept up to the road once they cleared Murrough¡¯s property. Donal watched the white wisps of fog that floated westward down the bay, gathering in a cloud that clung to the water near its head. Only the tops of two-story buildings were visible across the bay.


    Siobhan¡¯s eyes fixed on the road ahead but her posture was one of ease. Behind Donal there were sounds of shifting and squirming, but he wasn¡¯t eager to check. He wasn¡¯t ready for even accidental eye contact with his brother. Yellowhammer trills and the grey heron croaks were the only conversations had during the first mile of the trip. The silence within the wagon now was awkward; it was a matter of minutes before some broke it.


    ¡°Sure look, Maeve,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering about something.¡±


    ¡°Have you, now?¡±


    ¡°O¡¯Connor¡ªyou¡¯re from Connaught?¡±


    ¡°Bold guess,¡± she said. ¡°My parents were from Roscommon, yes, but I was raised near Buncrana.¡±


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Which town near Buncrana?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say ¡®town¡¯ now, did I?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Finn said.


    Donal stole a glance at his brother. Finn¡¯s flushed face searched for a distraction in any direction away from Maeve. He settled on the road behind. Siobhan pursed her lips and dropped her brow. She gestured with head and made fleeting eye contact with Maeve before her eyes returned to the road ahead. Maeve cleared her throat.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to snap,¡± she said.


    ¡°I was prying,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind sharing, I just don¡¯t see much worth sharing. We moved away from Roscommon when I was too young to remember. I grew up in a cabin near Lough Turk, a few miles away from Buncrana. My mam and da taught me how to hunt and track. Da taught me how to lay as still as a stone for hours waiting for the right moment to loose an arrow. My mam could track anything nearly anywhere¡ªeven across some rivers.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± said Finn.


    He muttered to himself before Maeve let him off the hook.


    ¡°Flidais,¡± she said. ¡°The huntress. That¡¯s on my dad¡¯s side. My mom¡¯s side comes from Ois¨ªn.¡±


    Finn¡¯s voice rose with excitement.


    ¡°None other?¡± Finn said. ¡°Son of Finn Mac Cumhail?¡±


    ¡°And Saiv. It¡¯s from herself my mam thinks her magic comes. My dad wants to believe I¡¯ve got a bit of both of them, like Ois¨ªn.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know she had magic,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Not naturally,¡± Maeve said. ¡°The dark druid that cursed her transferred to her some magic by accident.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    The smell of salt water filled Donal¡¯s nostrils as the road curled around the bay head and headed back east. They were less than a mile from the middle of town. Donal grew bolder with his looks to the back seat, risking potential eye contact with Finn.


    ¡°How do you know our uncle?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Through Niall,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Niall and that dog were hunting around our lake seven years ago. He had a bit too much of the drink and found himself beset by a pack of wolves. I dropped three of them before he knew I was there. He¡¯s called me in to help dozens of times over the years.¡±


    ¡°Doing what?¡± Finn asked. ¡°If I¡¯m not overstepping.¡±


    ¡°A bit of ¡®come hunt this,¡¯ a bit of ¡®come help me track that.¡¯¡±


    The wagon rolled between two rows of homes and buildings that crowd the street. Above them the clouds coalesced into a monotone grey. Extra light broke through a distant gap in the buildings on the north side of the road. They neared the harbor and markets.


    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re being modest.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just how I see it,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Modesty¡¯s got nothing to do with it. Siobhan, we¡¯re close, yeah?¡±


    Ahead of them people stirred in front of homes and stalls though nobody traveled the streets on foot yet. They passed one person on horseback since crossing into town.


    ¡°Four hundred feet and maybe fifty more,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Grand,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°You must be fierce with a bow,¡± Finn said.


    With a flicker of a glare toward him, Maeve climbed to her feet and looked at the street ahead. She knocked an arrow and in one second aimed and loosed it down the street. Taking no time to examine the result, she collapsed into a seated position and pointed at Finn.


    ¡°No more questions,¡± she said before checking her reddened forearm for cuts from her bowstring.


    Those that witnessed Maeve¡¯s shot gasped and grumbled. One lady scolded all four of them as they passed.


    ¡°Listen, I know you don¡¯t like sharing,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°but could you try not murdering the innocent folk?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do better next time, Mam,¡± Maeve said with a sneer and an eye roll.


    They arrived in an open area reserved for the market fair. Siobhan pulled the reins and Maeve slid out of the wagon before the wheels came to a halt. Siobhan hopped down and secured the horse with apparent difficulty. Her arms jerked back and forth until they lurched away from the post. She caught up with Maeve and returned the arrow back to its hunter.


    ****


    ¡°Maeve just returned from her granddad¡¯s land,¡± Niall said. ¡°The news is not good.¡±


    Murrough stood at the window of his friend¡¯s house, his hands clasped behind his back. He watched the fog from the bay overtake Horn Head as his old friend debriefed him from the table on things they weren¡¯t ready to tell their younger cohorts.


    ¡°She says the blight¡¯s already south of Lough Erne and Sligo town. They think it could reach Galway and Athlone within two months.¡±


    Murrough whipped around to face Niall.


    ¡°That¡¯s a hundred miles!¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°It¡¯s moving slower towards the east,¡± Niall said. ¡°But it could reach Carrickfergus and the sea by the same time.¡±


    ¡°Any panic or tension?¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t say, but it won¡¯t be long before it gets down to Longford and Meath. It won¡¯t help with the clan infighting and the Normans there. Don¡¯t get me started on those earls in the south. Between picking sides in the English civil war and looking over their shoulder for the return of the plague, they¡¯re too wrapped up in themselves to realize what¡¯s happening up here. They won¡¯t know what¡¯s coming until it actually hits ¡®em¡ªand then the real fighting will begin.¡±


    ¡°In the meantime Breaslin lies in wait, ready to sway any petty chieftains that get desperate to keep their land,¡± Murrough said.


    He walked over the table and sat next to Niall, who pointed to an empty glass on the table. Murrough raised a hand to decline the offer.


    ¡°Any more from the abbey near Gartan?¡± he asked.


    ¡°As of last week the cauldron was still secured with no signs of tampering about it,¡± Niall said. ¡°Locals say strange people are still slinking around the villages there, but none of them have stepped foot within the abbey since that close call.¡±


    ¡°Still, the five of you should go there and look around,¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°And yourself?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°It would serve us well to keep someone with magic here in the north to keep an eye on Tory and stop any further attacks.¡±


    Niall scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re so well-versed in magic yet you volunteered to be the wagon driver back at Ards Beg. It didn¡¯t occur to you that they could have used your help against the dullahan?¡±


    Murrough leaned back and ran his fingers through his beard.


    ¡°Of course I could have helped,¡± he said. ¡°But it was something they needed to solve on their own, and they did. Better than I could have hoped.¡±


    ¡°One lucky throw and now they¡¯re ready to hunt Fomori,¡± Niall said. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re telling me?¡±


    Murrough dipped his head down and examined Niall from under his eyebrows.


    ¡°If you¡¯re finished being glib, Mr. MacRannell,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll remind you that Maeve was younger than either of us when she fought her first creature from the Fomori. Dair¨ªne MacSweeney has been training Siobhan since that girl could stand on two legs.¡±


    ¡°So I have to assume that it¡¯s the lads you¡¯re worried about,¡± he said. ¡°And you¡¯d be right to do so. Donal¡¯s never been trained to fight. Finn knows all the lore but has never cast a spell. But do you not sense that Donal¡¯s soul has ached for a purpose like this, even if he is raw? As for Finn, he is coming around. The world¡¯s beaten too much common sense into him, and he¡¯s grown callouses. They can be worn down.¡±


    ¡°Just like that?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll give the boys a lesson when they return from town,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I¡¯ll take Finn out to Marfagh, and you¡¯ll take Donal out and show him some basics. They¡¯re both capable of it, I have no doubt.¡±


    Niall raised his glass but chose a question before a sip.


    ¡°How is Finn going to learn from you if you¡¯re not coming with us?¡±


    ¡°Siobhan will train him,¡± Murrough said.


    Niall choked on his ale. A smirk spread across his mouth after he recovered.


    ¡°Sure, she¡¯ll love that,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°What about our friend in town?¡± Murrough asked. ¡°Is he ever going to commit and help us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not for the lack of trying,¡± Niall said. ¡°The only direction he can be pushed is away. He is helping us, just from afar.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± Murrough said. ¡°If he won¡¯t join you, then we have to bring Finn and Donal up to speed faster than they¡ªor we¡ªare comfortable with.¡±

 12) The third smithy

    ¡°Lads, go on and take these to the trailer,¡± said Siobhan. ¡°Maeve and I have one thing to do and then we¡¯ll ride over to the smith.¡±


    Donal shifted the sack to his other shoulder as he approached the wagon. The market fair at Dunfanaghy was an open square bordered by the main road, two side streets, and the bay. He looked past the six tables where various foods were sold. As the day drew on, the crowds thickened and queues for each merchant grew. From his angle Donal could see the remaining supplies of each seller. They would be sold out before midday.


    Fishermen sold their catches next to the harbor. Each had three times the stock of their counterparts selling grains, vegetables and fruits. One row to his right, the dairy farmers had double the supply. Across the side street stood a pair of structures with various pieces of metalwork displayed in front.


    Donal pointed at the smith closest to the main road.


    ¡°Why do we need a wagon to take us there?" he asked. "I can throw this bag and hit him!¡±


    ¡°You used to give me more credit, back when you were a boy,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Crack on.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not a boy now?¡± Maeve asked Siobhan.


    The hunter¡¯s jab wasn¡¯t in jest. The bag slipped off Donal¡¯s shoulder in his brief demoralized state, but a desperate grab stopped it from hitting the floor. To his relief, nobody witnessed his bumble.


    Maeve and Siobhan had returned to the wagon by the time the brothers deposited their purchases. True to their agreement, Maeve climbed into the front. Donal thought about pressing his luck for another go, but he wouldn''t risk successive swipes at his pride. He climbed into the back, every effort made to avoid acknowledging his brother¡¯s presence.


    The wagon rolled down the main road, past the side street and its two smithies. They passed the town green and turned left down a small road that followed the shore. Behind the two-story home on the corner stretched seven cabins in varied states of upkeep. Four huts followed, each containing just one room. The road skirted a grazing field and ended twenty yards past an oddly-shaped dwelling on the right.


    The base structure was an elongated house. Its walls were made of stacked stone, speckled in every shade of grey imaginable. As the wagon drew near Donal could see many of the stones were scored or cut. Stone tiles topped the home with two chimneys rising from the roof. A small thatch cover hung in front of the house on the opposite side from where they approached. Below it several tables were arranged with small, indeterminate items. The front door hung open.


    Siobhan led the wagon past the length of the house and pulled the horse to a stop at the road¡¯s end. This end of the house was open but, thanks to three rough-hewn beams of wood, was covered by the main roof. A short oblong trough in the middle of the open area ran back to the exterior wall of the home. Above it stood the widest smoke chamber Donal had ever seen.


    Two bellows attached to the left of the forge. One was open, one closed, and a rocker arm in between them ensured that no more than one bellow would open¡ªor close¡ªat a time. The air above the trough wavered over the glowing red embers inside. He could not feel the heat from this far away, but the acrid smell of smoke already clung to the inside of his nose.


    Finn¡¯s eyes sized up the wares on the table. Aside from a few random bits of metalwork, the tables were filled with horseshoes.


    ¡°A farrier?¡± Finn asked. ¡°We passed two other smithies and crawled down this road for a farrier. Surely these must be the finest horseshoes in Ulster, then.¡±


    Maeve silenced Finn with a scowl. She locked him in her sights as she hopped down and rounded the front of the wagon. Donal wondered how many animals saw this expression in their final moments of life. Clear of the horse, she donned a thin grin and hurried to the open door, knocking on the jamb as she entered.


    Siobhan raised her eyebrows at Finn. He shrugged in appeal.


    ¡°He¡¯s more than just a farrier,¡± she said. ¡°But he¡¯s from Connaught, and he¡¯s a tad¡­ unconventional. The locals haven¡¯t warmed up to him yet.¡±


    Finn closed his eyes and gave a labored nod. He and Donal followed Siobhan into the house.


    The entire main structure was a single room, but another room was added to the building after its construction. Metal spikes were driven into cracks between the stones and from them dozens of weapons hung sideways. Along the far wall hung greatswords, longswords, short swords and every other kind of longer blade in the house. Spears of two lengths and four variations of tip hung on the front wall. Maces hung on the wall through which they passed.


    Four sturdy bucklers leaned in the corner between the swords and maces. Three kite shields leaned horizontally under the maces. Seven tables were arranged around the room, two against the front wall, four perpendicular to the rear wall. The smallest table stood against the rear wall; Donal assumed its only purpose was for eating. A large pedal-powered grindstone sat in the far corner next to the front wall.


    Hauberks, coifs and other bits of chainmail were spread over one of the tables that lined the wall. Breastplates, backplates, and faulds were stacked on another. Several finished leather items were on a third. The remaining tables held various components of unfinished weapons and armor, and at the furthest of the work tables loomed the man responsible for it all.


    Only his head was visible to Donal, as Maeve stood across from the host. He examined her bow, testing its draw and the string knocks on each tip. Siobhan approached him and patted his shoulder.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Finn and Donal MacLaughlin, meet Gavin O¡¯Roarke.¡±


    ¡°Dia daoibh,¡± Gavin said.


    The brothers nodded.


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve met Maeve,¡± Siobhan said to the host.


    Her voice was almost in song. Gavin let out a single, polite chuckle. Maeve was less amused.


    ¡°MacSweeney, that joke wasn¡¯t funny the first time you told it, and hasn¡¯t gotten any funnier the past five years,¡± Maeve said.


    Gavin stood taller than both Finn and Murrough. Years of swinging a hammer and moving metal prevented his slender frame from a gangly appearance. Black wavy hair fell down the sides of his head, the tips on his left side singed by heat. A few small lines marked his forearms, upon further inspection Donal saw them as burn marks. His body movements flowed with purpose, but his facial expressions fit better with someone bookish and awkward. Smudges of soot and sweat added several years to his face, but he was no more than two years older than Maeve.


    As Donal rounded the side of the table he caught Maeve¡¯s face for the first time since the wagon. She leaned toward Gavin as if she was still surrounded by the din of market crowds. Her smile was open, her eyes were narrow, and color flooded her cheeks. A wave of dislike for Gavin washed over Donal, though he was unclear on why.


    Donal looked away from the trio at the table and caught his brother lifting a broadsword off of the wall. What light came through the door reflected off the blade toward Donal and revealed part of an etching that led from a crossguard lined with gold. Finn pulled the blade close to his face for a detailed read.


    ¡°Pretty good for a simple farrier, dya¡¯think?¡± Gavin said to Finn.


    The forge added a premature rasp to Gavin¡¯s voice and extra scuff to his jab. Finn rehung the sword and looked back at him. The color in his cheeks matched Maeve¡¯s.


    ¡°S¡¯alright, fella,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Most here can only afford my shoes, and laying them out there in front lets me hide the good stuff in here.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°are they ready?¡±


    Gavin shook his head.


    ¡°Ever the doubting one,¡± he said. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡±


    Gavin retreated into the additional room. The interior door led Donal¡¯s eyes to the small dining table. A stack of papers were fanned across one side. Drawings and diagrams were scrawled across those sheets left visible. After a few grunts, thuds and clatters, Gavin rejoined them and dropped a large wooden chest on the only open work table. He sat in the corner while Siobhan rifled through the contents of the chest.


    ¡°This should hold you for a while,¡± he said to Siobhan. ¡°Until you get to your place.¡±


    She turned to show him her full glare.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my place, is it?¡± she asked.


    Gavin threw up his hands. A thought shifted his eyes, and he retreated back to the interior room.


    Siobhan pulled out a hauberk and held it against Donal¡¯s chest to size it up. He stiffened his back and puffed out his chest. He checked to see if Maeve was watching, but she was too occupied with the leather armor, dyed dark green, that she took from the chest.


    ¡°How many arrows did you get me?¡± Maeve called to the back room.


    ¡°Six dozen total¡ªthree with broadheads and three with field points.¡±


    ¡°Oh, is that all?¡±


    Gavin wasn¡¯t in the room to see her smirk.


    ¡°No, I bundled three dozen more shafts with broadheads and a pouch full of fletchings with some skin glue. I figured you were skilled enough to fletch your own arrows in a pinch.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that will have to do,¡± Maeve said.


    She mouthed some words to Siobhan, her mouth widened for exaggeration. Gavin returned holding a spear and short sword and watched Siobhan size up Donal¡¯s hauberk. The smith inhaled a fake gasp.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that it fits!¡± he said.


    Siobhan¡¯s grin undercut the annoyed look she gave him from the side of her eye.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to hate this, then,¡± he said.


    He lobbed a short sword in her direction. Siobhan dropped the hauberk into Donal¡¯s arms and caught the sword by the leather hilt. A thread of gold spiraled around the hilt from its pommel to its narrow semicircle crossguard, from which a gorgeously-proportioned leaf blade extended.


    ¡°Just awful,¡± she said.


    Her eyes followed the blade as it widened away from the hilt and narrowed to a tip.


    ¡°I love it.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s my sword?¡± Donal asked.


    Gavin walked toward Donal and clicked the spear¡¯s handle on the ground in front of him.


    ¡°This is the one for you, fella,¡± Gavin said.


    The tip had four edges and stood atop a four-foot handle. As he reached in, Gavin tilted the weapon away from Donal to grab his attention.


    ¡°No swinging this around in here,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Or anywhere until you¡¯ve trained a bit with Niall.¡±


    Donal resented the implication but chose the weapon over his pride. He nodded to Gavin and set the hauberk on the side of the nearest table and took the spear from its maker. He examined it without moving it too far from upright.


    ¡°So you¡¯re Goibniu?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Or at least your great-great-great-whatever-grandad was Goibniu?¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re the bard-to-be,¡± Gavin said. ¡°The real introductions are made.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Goibniu?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°The master blacksmith of the Tuatha D¨¦,¡± Finn said. ¡°In Goibniu¡¯s case, the word ¡®master¡¯ still might be an understatement. So then, forgemaster, what have you got for me?¡±


    Maeve smirked and threw a heavy blue shirt at Finn. He held it up and compared it to Maeve¡¯s armor and Donal¡¯s chainmail. Finn squashed his eyes with his brows and dropped the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Is this meant to protect me from the cold?¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of summer!¡±


    A mite of hospitality faded from Gavin¡¯s face.


    ¡°Oi! That¡¯s one of the best gambesons that I¡¯ve ever made. The dye alone¡ªdo you have any idea how hard it is to get enough cobalt to cover the entire outer layer?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t understand why I¡¯m not getting a hauberk or leather to protect myself.¡±


    ¡°That has twenty layers of wool and linen on the body, fifteen on the arms,¡± Gavin said. ¡°The average gambeson helps against cuts and blows, even an arrow--if you¡¯re very lucky. They also have more layers than this, but don¡¯t forget who you¡¯re talking to. This should hold you a long time and, indeed, when it gets cold it won¡¯t be too bad to look at, either.¡±


    ¡°Niall and Murrough aren¡¯t looking to put someone the likes of you out in front, anyway,¡± Maeve said.


    Her tone matched the color of Finn¡¯s new tunic.


    ¡°What will I use as a weapon?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Whatever it is, I wasn¡¯t asked to make it.¡±


    Finn drew quiet and nodded in gratitude to Gavin and the smith¡¯s smile returned.


    ¡°Not to sound ungrateful myself,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°but what about those extra items?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m missing some materials, things that aren¡¯t just laying about here. I¡¯ll personally deliver them to your¡ªexcuse me¡ªyour grandfather¡¯s place at Doe when they are finished.¡±


    ¡°And then you¡¯ll join us?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°I thought I made myself clear on that.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t blame us for trying,¡± she said. ¡°Thank you, Gavin. These are lovely. We¡¯ll do our best to not ruin them.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that defeat their purpose?¡± he asked.


    Siobhan laughed. Donal watched her smile fade as her mind seemingly lingered on the smith¡¯s last comment.


    ¡°Alright, everyone,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s get this loaded and hope that there¡¯s still room for the fellas.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t lose sleep over it,¡± Maeve said with a final wave and a smile over her shoulder at Gavin.

 13) Fil铆 magic

    ¡°Don¡¯t get too comfortable, lads.¡± said Murrough.


    He carried the remaining lunch bowls and utensils to a side table. Finn sighed and stood up.


    ¡°What things do you need moved now?¡± he said.


    ¡°Just you. Come with me.¡±


    Finn felt Donal¡¯s eyes upon him once again, and once again he refused to meet his brother¡¯s gaze.


    He followed Murrough out of the house toward the stables. Someone put a saddle on the back of his uncle¡¯s horse. Murrough entered one of the stalls, placed padding and a saddle atop a brown horse covered in white spots and led it out.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be riding G¨¢la,¡± he said.


    In twenty years, Finn had walked, brushed, fed and watered horses. He¡¯d held the reins and driven a wagon between Ards Beg and Dunfanaghy three times. When it came to mounting and riding a horse, however, he was woefully inexperienced. He rode his uncle¡¯s horse, Reatha, twice into Dunfanaghy.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I ride Reatha?¡±


    ¡°G¨¢la is good-tempered,¡± Murrough said. ¡°You two will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you to a stone circle for some training. It¡¯s time you worked some magic.¡±


    ¡°Should I go fetch Donal?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got his own training with Niall today.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t the end of Finn¡¯s questions but his primary focus was climbing the six-foot horse that stood before him. He needed three attempts to do it the last time he rode.


    ¡°Reins and mane in your left hand, left foot in the stirrup, reach around the pommel,¡± his uncle said. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to keep your right leg above the cantle as you swing it across.¡±


    Finn climbed into the saddle in one fluid motion, to his surprise.


    Murrough unhooked Raetha and climbed on top. He eased over to Finn and scanned him from his head to G¨¢la¡¯s hoof.


    ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°I think so,¡± Finn said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel as odd as I remembered.¡±


    ¡°Keep your calm and balance. The fit of the pommel and cantle will do the rest.¡±


    Murrough gave the sides of Raetha a nudge with his heels and they walked to the main road. Finn imitated his uncle¡¯s motion and G¨¢la lurched forward. Both horses broke into a trot once he joined Murrough¡¯s side.


    ¡°How am I meant to do magic?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Despite your best bluffs, I know you were listening when Siobhan explained to your brother the exchange of energy between planes,¡± Murrough said. ¡°That was an introduction, of course. We¡¯ll go over some finer details at the circle.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, uncle. How am I meant to do magic? Donal showed some aptitude with his throw, but what have I done to show I can do magic? Look at Siobhan: she¡¯s a druid but her brother is not.¡±


    ¡°Ciar¨¢n isn¡¯t a druid, that is correct. But she¡¯s got four more brothers who are.¡±


    ¡°She does? She never talks about them.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re grown,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Three of them have married off and have kids of their own. But all of the four have the ability to use druidic magic, even if they aren¡¯t as powerful as Siobhan.¡±


    ¡°G¡¯way with that,¡± Finn said. ¡°She¡¯s that strong?¡±


    ¡°Given the time you spent together, are you that surprised?¡± Murrough said. ¡°Maybe keep it between us for now.¡±


    ¡°It seems like a thing a person would want to hear,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯d want to hear it if it were about me.¡±


    Murrough started to answer but abandoned his response. He looked skyward as if he¡¯d jotted his thoughts on the clouds and turned back to Finn.


    ¡°We¡¯ve leaned on her more lately, even before the events of the past few days. Finding balance and perspective while taking on more responsibility is not easy. Some take on too much at the start. Some put it all on themselves. Worse yet, some put it all on others. This evolution can be overwhelming for anyone, much less a potential druid prodigy.¡±


    ¡°As she grows into the role within the s¨ªlrad that we hope she¡¯ll assume, I don¡¯t want her to lean on her magic like a bridge leans on its piers.¡±


    Murrough leaned in as if she were riding along with them.


    ¡°Again, I¡¯m trusting you to keep all of this between us for now.¡±


    Finn nodded and his eyes wandered up the gentle slopes and mountains of Horn Head on his right. They neared the brackish bog that met Dunfanaghy Bay at its head. Instead of following the road back toward town as they did this morning, Murrough turned right and followed a worn trail further west.


    Hang on, the old man never answered my question, Finn realized.


    ¡°No sidetracks this time, uncle,¡± Finn said. ¡°What makes you think I can do magic?¡±


    ¡°Aside from the gut feeling I¡¯ve had about you boys since you were too little to talk?¡± Murrough asked. ¡°Your mam told me.¡±


    ¡°She did not!¡±


    ¡°You were very young. Donal was a month old, and your dad was down in Donegal. A storm swept through that night and your brother would scream with every clap of thunder. A gust of wet wind blew in and doused a candle near the window. She told me you walked up the candle and lit it with just a look and a wave of your hand.¡±


    ¡°And she never spoke of it again.¡±


    ¡°She told your father and I,¡± Finn said. ¡°Several years passed without another sign, and your dad thought it best if we dropped it. They both thought that the days of evil strong enough to require the s¨ªlrad to rise up were well in the past. Whether you had magic or not didn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    They rounded the southern edge of the mountains and followed the path through drab olive turf and between flowerless bushes. This part of the peninsula was too rocky and uneven for any farming. Finn wondered what ahead of them could warrant enough trips to create the trail they followed.


    ¡°Yet they helped you monitor suspected Fomori,¡± Finn said. ¡°Seems foolish of them, knowing what we do now.¡±


    ¡°Not foolishness. It¡¯s hope,¡± Murrough said.


    He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.


    ¡°Maybe complacency. We all hope that we leave the world smarter, better than when we entered it. We hear about the dark times our ancestors endured¡ªor sometimes put others through¡ªand we assume that people are better than that now for no other reason than ¡®we know better.¡¯ A mistake? Surely. But you don¡¯t have to be a fool to make a mistake.¡±


    They slowed to navigate a rocky part of terrain. From here the trail turned left and ran downhill. Gulls called to each other from a sandy shore on the left. A healthier shade of grass led ahead of them until it met the rocky edge of Horn Head¡¯s northern cliffs.


    An unnatural configuration several yards short of the cliff edge grabbed Finn¡¯s attention. Several large stones, differing in size and shape, stood in a broken circle. As the pair drew near, the broken pattern showed an original layout of twelve stones. One had tipped on its side, and three were missing. Three additional stones were arranged in a triangle offset from the circle by 60 yards.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t so long,¡± Murrough said as they neared the circle.


    They stopped two hundred yards from the circle next to a few trees. Murrough hopped down and wrapped the reins around one of the trees.


    ¡°Tie her up tight, in case she gets spooked,¡± he said.


    Finn complied and secured G¨¢la, giving an extra tug to be safe.


    Murrough pulled a sheathed sword from a long leather covering that hung from his saddle.


    ¡°Before we get too far, I want you to have this,¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°Your sword?¡± Finn said. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not my sword as it turns out. In our discussions over the past few days, there¡¯s one obvious question you haven¡¯t asked of me.¡±


    Finn leaned back on his heels and rubbed the back of his head as he replayed the conversations in his head. When the answer came to him, he sank his shoulders and threw his head back in frustration.


    ¡°Who is your ancestor, Murrough?¡± Finn asked the sky above him.


    ¡°Manann¨¢n, son of Lir, foster¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªfather of Lugh,¡± Finn said. ¡°Of course you are. Then this sword is Fragarach? The Fragarach?¡±


    ¡°The Answerer itself. It¡¯s said no one that has it put to their neck can tell a lie.¡±


    ¡°¡®It¡¯s said?¡¯ Have you never tested it yourself?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never encountered a situation where I needed the truth from someone held at swordpoint,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Though I have been tempted during my travels of late.¡±


    ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± Finn asked. ¡°I¡¯m not ready. I¡¯ve barely swung a sword.¡±


    ¡°Because you will need it. We¡¯re heading down to that circle, and I¡¯ll test you and teach some things. Still, there will be times when you need to pick up the sword, and I want you to have this sword.¡±


    He handed the blade to Finn. The leather that wrapped its hilt was worn. Its crossguard was simple in shape with little ornamentation and a pommel to match. An intricate filigree pattern was etched into the rain guard, stopping short of the fuller. From crossguard to tip the blade measured two feet in length and lacked any of the patina that covered the exposed metal on the sword¡¯s hilt. In the right light, Finn suspected the blade might glow.


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle. Truly.¡±


    Finn re-wrapped the sword and tied it to the back of G¨¢la¡¯s saddle. He caught up with Murrough halfway to the circle.


    ¡°So what are you testing me on, exactly?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°To see how much bard or fil¨ª is in you,¡± said Murrough.


    ¡°Oral history?¡± Finn said, his spirits rising. ¡°I¡¯m rusty but I like my chances.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking of a seancha¨ª. You don¡¯t need magic to be a seancha¨ª. Think of a bard like a seancha¨ª that has magic. With enough training, practice and ability, bards can become fil¨ª. A precious few progress to high fil¨ª. Beyond that, each province can name one ollav but the qualifications are fierce and the position is often vacant. Ulster, Meath and Leinster don¡¯t have an ollav right now.¡±


    Finn stepped within the circle and rocked backwards one step. The air was no longer thick with sea spray. It reminded him of the portal tomb: the air felt thin as he moved about but he did not struggle for breath.


    ¡°You felt that?¡± Murrough said. ¡°The veil between this and other worlds and planes is thin here. Much like portal tombs, these circles can be used as doorways¡ªin skilled hands. They are also great places to learn.¡±


    ¡°There are eleven planes that run parallel with our world. Each one is different by increments, each one has its own energy, but all of them are in the same location as ours. Some planes are accessed by all with little effort. Some lend themselves to more specific kinds of magic. Bards and fil¨ª often draw energy from Mag Ildathanna, the ¡®multi-colored plane.¡¯¡±


    ¡°With you so far,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°There are several ways to cast a spell,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Each technique has its own use. The first is an adaig, or the ¡®Shove.¡¯ It provides the most outward force.¡±


    Murrough turned to face a small group of trees 80 feet north of the circle. He extended his arms and then inhaled as he pulled them to his chest.


    ¡°G¨¢eth nerto.¡±


    He flung his hands forward. A trail of parted grass led away from them. Within two seconds the trees were bowing away from Murrough¡¯s extended arms, halfway to the ground. He brought his right arm back and then pushed it forward. After a few more seconds he did the same with his left. He pulled his hands back and dropped them to his sides, and the winds calmed.


    ¡°The longer one holds out their arms, the longer they can extend the cast,¡± he said. ¡°But if you don¡¯t keep cycling energy from our world back into the plane from where you¡¯re pulling the wind, it creates an imbalance, and things fall apart.¡±


    ¡°How do you know which plane you are pulling from?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°The simple answer when you¡¯re learning is, ¡®you don¡¯t,¡¯¡± Murrough said. ¡°When you¡¯re raw, you pull from planes to which you¡¯re attuned by instinct. As you learn more and develop your skill, you¡¯ll figure out how to target specific planes. It takes a tremendous amount of skill, though.¡±


    ¡°The second technique is the buail, or The ¡®Punch.¡¯ It¡¯s a faster cast, but it¡¯s less powerful than the Shove. One can hold it for a short amount of time, but they can¡¯t recycle new energy in and out. It¡¯s meant for quick spells.¡±


    Murrough faced north and held up his right arm. He brought his hand back to his shoulder.


    ¡°G¨¢eth.¡±


    He tilted his elbow outward and flicked his hand away, toward the trees. The leaves atop the trees rustled five seconds later.


    ¡°Finally, we have the c¨²airt, or The Circle. These are sustained spells without any of the force of the previous two techniques. This has the highest risk of failure because your hands have to sustain the push and pull with the same amount of energy. The upside is flexibility. You can make your circle horizontal, vertical or even diagonal. Sometimes the size you need to make is flexible as well.¡±


    Murrough raised his hands to shoulder level.


    ¡°Ceilid.¡±


    He moved his hands in a circle, keeping his palms diametrically opposed. After one full revolution he faded away.


    ¡°Murrough?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what?¡¯¡± Finn asked. ¡°Where did you go, you gobdaw?¡±


    ¡°Somewhere where lads still respect their elders, perhaps?¡±


    Murrough laughed and reappeared where Finn saw him last, his hands still at his sides.


    ¡°Your turn,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re going to call some wind with a punch.¡±


    Murrough recreated the casting motion, one movement at a time. Finn mimicked each one.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°G¨¢eth,¡± Murrough said. ¡°¡®Wind,¡¯ in the old tongue.¡±


    ¡°G¨¢eth,¡± Finn said. ¡°Nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°Say it right before you push.¡±


    ¡°G¨¢eth. What am I doing wrong?¡±


    ¡°First, stop,¡± said Murrough. ¡°Breathe. Quiet yourself. Once you pull away energy from our world and put it in the other plane, energy from that plane wants to push through into our world to achieve balance. It¡¯s not about forcing something to happen. You allow it to happen. You give it room to happen.¡±


    ¡°Not just out here with your arms,¡± he said, placing the heel of his hand on Finn¡¯s chest. ¡°In there, too.¡±


    Finn closed his eyes, drew a long breath through his nose and held it for three seconds. He felt the air leave his lungs and cross his lips as he exhaled. He did it once more and goosebumps spread over his arms. After his third deep breath the air touching his arms turned cold.


    ¡°G¨¢eth.¡±


    The air surrounding his entire right hand drew towards his palm as his arm moved forward. When his arm reached full extension the excess air leapt out of his palm and flew ahead of him.


    Finn didn¡¯t need to open his eyes to see Murrough¡¯s displaced beard or the ruffling of his shirt. He felt it. He did it.

 14) Battle with Niall / Dinner at MacRannells

    ¡°Why can¡¯t we do this in your yard?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°We need more room than that to work,¡± Niall said.


    He pointed a thumb backwards.


    ¡°And we don¡¯t need an audience.¡±


    Donal followed Niall¡¯s thumb back toward his house. Through a window he could see the shapes of Siobhan¡¯s and Maeve¡¯s heads. Their faces weren¡¯t pressed against the window but Donal now was thankful for the extra space. He leaned the wooden pole in his right hand over his shoulder as a wooden practice shield swung in his left.


    The pair left Niall¡¯s property, walked through a thin grove and stopped in a clearing on the other side.


    ¡°The practice poles I get,¡± Donal said. ¡°But what¡¯s with these glorified pot lids?¡±


    ¡°Two reasons. If you¡¯re training to use spears with one hand, these shields keep you from slipping in a second hand while practicing advanced moves. Also, I find it best to use a shield. You can¡¯t control the conditions of a battle, and you can¡¯t rely solely on your armor. Shields protect you from archers you¡¯re not focused on, and they protect you from your opponent throwing his spear or axe at you.¡±


    Once Niall said ¡°battle¡± his words were muffled in Donal¡¯s mind. Opponents, archers, martial fighting¡ªthese were tangible things, not an imprecise concept like ¡°stop the evil man and save your land¡± or a secondary role such as ¡°sneak in after I distract the monster.¡±


    Donal¡¯s shield bounced off his torso. He shook his head and found Niall¡¯s practice spear at his throat.


    ¡°Oi! Did I lose you already, boyo? I thought you were ready for this.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°With a shield, there are two ways to hold a spear: low and high,¡± Niall said. ¡°Holding your spear low allows you quick, controlled stabs. Try it.¡±


    Niall held his shield forward for a target. Donal poked at it several times.


    ¡°Most times you¡¯ll have your spear up high, over your shield. It¡¯s better for close quarters and if you need to throw your spear it¡¯s ready to go. Give it a lash.¡±


    Donal hit Niall¡¯s shield five more times, his arm growing weary with each strike.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try some light sparring,¡± Niall said. ¡°Shield up and keep the point of your spear between your face and your opponent.¡±


    The two circled each other with deliberate steps, trading jabs and blocks.


    ¡°That throw I heard so much about,¡± Niall said, ¡°ever do anything like that before?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°What specifics do you remember?¡±


    Donal explained the initial plan and what happened after it failed.


    ¡°It was gaining on her,¡± he said. ¡°She didn¡¯t have time to set up.¡±


    ¡°And you thought, ¡®I¡¯ll just throw this thing at him from 400 feet away.¡¯¡±


    ¡°It was 500 feet, I think.¡±


    An ache crept into Donal¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°My mistake. Why did you think it would work?¡±


    Donal¡¯s shield grazed Niall¡¯s practice spear, deflecting it just wide of his chest. He was struggling to keep his balance.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would. I just knew that I had to do something. Sounds like she did all the work by enchanting it, anyway.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure of that,¡± said Niall. ¡°How did you feel right before you threw it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Hot, maybe? Like my skin was heating the air around me. Are you saying that she didn¡¯t enchant that knife?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she did,¡± Niall said. ¡°But I think that throw had more to do with you than she realizes.¡±


    Niall¡¯s response caught Donal off guard. He lowered his shield and spear as he considered it.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying¡ª¡±


    Niall brought his training spear back over his shoulder, placed the flat of his right palm behind it, and pushed it downward creating a chopping motion. Donal raised his shield only for it to be knocked backwards into his chest, pushing him to the ground. His spear landed behind him, the shield slid from his hand.


    ¡°Oi!¡±


    ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°You distracted me.¡±


    ¡°If a mere opinion was enough to distract you, perhaps we should stop.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Donal said.


    He reached back for his spear and scrambled to his feet. He looked down at his shield and assessed the growing ache in his left shoulder. He didn¡¯t want training to end like this; he wanted a chance to even things with Niall.


    ¡°Can we try it without the shields?¡±


    Niall¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked Donal over.


    ¡°Sure, but follow my moves to start. The movement in two-handed fighting is different than it is for one-handed.¡±


    ¡°Grand. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Donal knocked his spear against Niall¡¯s to begin the new session.


    ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m capable of power like that?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Focus, please,¡± Niall said.


    Niall continued his slow, exaggerated movements and held his final position until Donal¡¯s training spear met his with a clack.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Some people are blessed with quiet souls,¡± Niall said. ¡°Your brother is often elsewhere in his mind but he, like most, shows a stillness deep inside him.¡±


    Donal struck his spear to complete another motion.


    ¡°Finn does his best to understand, but you rumble inside at a depth he can never reach. Few people would. Fewer would care enough to try. As for myself, I¡¯ve seen it when you visit. I still don¡¯t understand why it happens, but I see it.¡±


    Donal wrinkled his nose at Niall, keeping his focus on the movements as directed. His strike gained speed and certainty as the movements became familiar.


    ¡°Some will see you rumble and keep their distance. Some will point and laugh from the side, they might even call you ¡®touched.¡¯ That can¡¯t help things, can it?¡±


    Donal struggled to keep up with the increased pace of their movement. The sound of the spears colliding began to echo.


    ¡°Some will call you a bogger. When you walk through town, they¡¯ll whisper between themselves, guessing at all the reasons Finn keeps you hidden. They¡¯ll laugh in your face.¡±


    ¡°I thought we were friends,¡± Donal said. ¡°What are you on about?¡±


    The spears moved with such speed that they appeared to bounce from one collision directly to another. Donal¡¯s retreat continued until his back collided with a nearby tree. He grabbed the other end of his spear close to the tip, shoved Niall away and regained his footing. Niall did not respond to his question, instead he resumed the sparring at a slower speed. When he did speak, Niall¡¯s volume and tone had softened.


    ¡°Eventually, the people in town will dismiss you,¡± Niall said. ¡°They¡¯ll see that ¡®needless¡¯ fire in your eye, they¡¯ll feel that rumble coming from your heart. They¡¯ll say you¡¯ve got little to offer without your brother. Without Finn, you¡¯ll amount to nothing.¡±


    Donal struck Niall¡¯s spear with enough force to knock it from his opponent¡¯s hand. He raised his spear parallel to his ear and pointed it at his elder. His skin burned. The air that touched him cooked.


    Niall didn¡¯t flinch. His eyes didn¡¯t widen with fear or anger; they softened but did not relent. If Donal was in any other state he would have crushed Niall with a hug. In this state, however, he was only capable of one thing.


    Donal reached back and fired the pole over Niall¡¯s shoulder. The sound of wood popping and cracking echoed across the clearing. Niall turned and walked toward the source of the sound. Donal cast his eyes to the ground, fighting through a wave of shame to slow his breathing and cool himself.


    Niall¡¯s footsteps approached, his hand lifted Donal¡¯s chin to meet his face.


    ¡°You wanted to put that straight through me,¡± Niall said.


    He propped up Donal¡¯s face and pointed a thumb over his shoulder.


    ¡°You may not see it my way, but given how coldly I picked at you I consider this to be progress.¡±


    Niall stepped to the side to allow Donal to see the result. The trunk of a larch tree was split down the middle at eye level with one-third of Donal¡¯s practice spear protruding from its back.


    Donal¡¯s mouth opened as the realization crept in. He ran to the tree, unsure of how to retrieve his practice weapon.


    ¡°Leave it, lad,¡± Niall said. ¡°Let¡¯s head in and make dinner before the ladies get to it. I¡¯m not sure your stomach is ready for whatever Maeve will cook up.¡±


    ****


    Donal had never stepped inside the refectory of a monastery, but he was sure dinners there were louder than the one he shared tonight at the MacRannell house. Next to him, Murrough sat at the foot of the table, his eyes bouncing between the windows that faced him. Finn sat across from Donal, appearing as exhausted as he was. Siobhan¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t stray from the bottom of her bowl as she picked at her food. Niall¡¯s spoon circled like a water wheel between his plate and his mouth. Maeve had finished her meal and was twirling her spoon against the bottom of her bowl.


    Niall said little else to Donal on the way back from their training ground. The only conversation between them since their return was the directions he gave to Donal as they prepared the meal. Not much needed to be said, in truth, because Niall¡¯s words during training still replayed in his mind on a loop. With every retelling, they stung anew. If Shadow ever decided to go on holiday, Niall would prove a worthy substitute.


    Donal decided he¡¯d stewed in his own head for long enough and it was time to stir someone else¡¯s pot. Whatever the repercussions, it beat what he had been doing.


    ¡°Sure look, Maeve,¡± he said, ¡°what is wrong with your cooking, anyway?¡±


    The sound of spoons scraping bowls stopped as four other people turned their heads toward Donal and froze.


    ¡°What makes you say that, you little melter?¡± Maeve asked.


    A look of realization crossed her face and she glared at the head of the table. Niall responded with a shrug.


    ¡°Niall said we needed to return before you made dinner,¡± Donal said.


    She pulled the spoon out of her bowl and pointed it at Donal.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know each other well enough for that kind of banter.¡±


    She bobbed her head in Niall¡¯s direction but never broke eye contact with Donal.


    ¡°As for himself over there, not everyone can hole up in their fancy house and live off their friend¡¯s cooking. There¡¯s not a lot of room for large feasts when sleeping in trees or hiding from the rain in lean-tos.¡±


    ¡°You do that?¡± Donal asked.


    His esteem for Maeve climbed with every new detail he learned. His slack-jawed grin caught the archer off-guard.


    ¡°Not as much as she¡¯d have you believe,¡± Niall said. ¡°But she can walk into the woods and disappear for three weeks and return none the worse for it.¡±


    Donal wondered what a nap in the bough of a tree would require. A kick from his brother under the table informed him he had stared too long. Maeve¡¯s eyes returned to her bowl. Siobhan, however, scanned the group with a twinkle in her eye and a smirk on her face.


    ¡°So what did you think of Gavin?¡± she asked.


    Maeve shifted in her seat.


    ¡°He¡¯s grand and all¡ª¡±


    Maeve looked up from the table to find Siobhan looking with intent at the brothers. Her smirk had widened into a smile, the twinkle in her eye now a gleam. Niall and Murrough smiled at their food, their shoulders moving in tiny bounces. Maeve cleared her throat.


    ¡°¡ªmore importantly, what did you think, Finn?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°Was he worthy enough for you?¡±


    Judging by his face, Finn was the only person at the table happy to take the conversation thus far at face value. He did not react to the tone of her question.


    ¡°Did you see those drawings on his table?¡± Finn asked. ¡°The etching and detail on his weapons? Yer man is sound.¡±


    Maeve¡¯s shoulders dropped as she shook her head. After another look at Finn she resumed the study of her bowl. Donal, however, bristled at his brother¡¯s earnest endorsement of Gavin.


    ¡°Can he fight?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°He can hold his own against some,¡± Niall said. ¡°Not all.¡±


    ¡°So why isn¡¯t he coming with us?¡±


    Murrough cleared his throat.


    ¡°It¡¯s not our choice to make, lad,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Gavin¡¯s got his own mind, his own past. He¡¯s giving us what he can. We can¡¯t ask for more.¡±


    ¡°What if we go back tomorrow and explain it all?¡± Finn asked. ¡°You turned me when I didn¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°Even if that would work¡ªand it would not¡ªthere¡¯s no more time for that,¡± Niall said. ¡°The four of you are joining me on a trip to the foot of Gartan Mountain at first light tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± said Siobhan. ¡°You told Maeve and I that the cauldron was fine. I assumed we¡¯d search elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still in Colmcille¡¯s abbey, but not for the lack of trying by the Fomori,¡± Niall said. ¡°Several months ago they caught two people sneaking around, but they escaped capture. There are others in the same garb and manner walking around that area, paying special interest in the abbey.¡±


    ¡°And what of Murrough?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°If it has to do with the Fomori, Tory Island will play a role at some point,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I didn¡¯t need an ever-expanding cloud of muck to tell me that. Someone needs to stay up north.¡±


    ¡°Which begs the following,¡± Niall said. ¡°Finn, this is your last chance to stay here with Murrough. There¡¯s no shame in doing so, of course, but know if you come south with us that you¡¯re committing fully. What say you?¡±


    "What happened to coming along for our own protection?" Finn asked.


    "That part hasn''t changed," Niall said. "Perhaps you can be of more help than assumed."


    Finn smiled and gave Siobhan a slight nod.


    "A little bit more," Niall said. "A very tiny bit."


    ¡°Either way, I¡¯m in,¡± Finn said. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±


    ¡°Good lad,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°Boys, we¡¯re sleeping here tonight. A floor in Niall¡¯s house is better than a bed in mine,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s clean up and finish making ready for tomorrow.¡±


    The other five people rose from their seats and headed to various areas of the house.


    ¡°Finn, I¡¯ll need to clean up that wound some more,¡± said Siobhan. ¡°We missed it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°I bet you did,¡± Maeve muttered.


    She shared a grin with Murrough.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Nevermind, actually. Keep it to yourself.¡±


    Donal opened his arms and leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Oi! Is it only Finn that gets a choice in this?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me as well?¡±


    Siobhan patted Donal¡¯s shoulder from behind as she passed his chair.


    ¡°They already knew your answer,¡± she said.

 15) A real apology / Heading south

    This was the moment Donal had dreaded since last night. Niall and Murrough were in one room, the host opting for the floor after offering Murrough the bed. Niall gave his other sleeping area to the ladies, leaving the main room floor to Finn and Donal.


    Donal regretted last night¡¯s outburst the moment he reached Murrough¡¯s loft. Fights between brothers aren¡¯t unusual, but last night was different. Finn didn¡¯t argue, leave, or even take a swing at Donal. He merely¡­ took it. How much longer would he have sat still if Murrough hadn¡¯t stepped in?


    Worse yet, Finn avoided every opportunity to interact with Donal today. Most days Finn would annoy Donal with constant glances and check-ins, watching his little brother¡¯s face for mood changes like a farmer studying clouds on the horizon. These moments were too rare today for it to be coincidence.


    The brothers finished their final preparations of the night and climbed under their respective blankets. It was too much for Donal. His stomach could not endure two straight nights of this tension, a tension he provoked.


    ¡°What can I do, Finn?¡±


    Finn turned his head and studied Donal¡¯s face for a long minute.


    ¡°Are you asking me in earnest, or because you¡¯re uncomfortable?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never been this quiet to me.¡±


    ¡°You can apologize,¡± Finn said. ¡°With words.¡±


    ¡°You know I¡¯m sorry. Clearly, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m showing you that I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Normally, actions are better than words,¡± Finn said. ¡°But you do need to say the words as well. Especially you. I understand that it¡¯s harder for you to say it than it is for most. I¡¯ve gathered that for whatever reason apologizing drops you so deeply into the moment of your mistake, it¡¯s as if someone threw you into a lake. But it¡¯s still something you need to do.¡±


    This was not the tone Donal expected from Finn. His brother didn¡¯t lash out, he didn¡¯t yell. His eyebrows were raised, his mouth was flat. He spoke in almost a whisper and with deliberation. It reminded Donal of the way people spoke to the both of them in the first year after their parents¡¯ passing.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just for me, but for everyone. Eventually you¡¯ll be out there on your own, and this is a basic thing that people expect¡ªand nobody feels great doing it themselves. But if you don¡¯t start doing it, you might push the people you care about so far away that they won¡¯t want to come back.¡±


    Finn let his words fade into silence and looked at the floor. Donal lacked the words. Moreover, lacked the ability to overcome his inertia and say the words. Finn sighed.


    ¡°I know I haven¡¯t made it easy,¡± Finn said. ¡°But you know I¡¯ve tried my best, right? I was never going to be as good at this as¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± said Donal. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Finn.¡±


    It reached the point where apologizing was easier than listening to Finn tear himself down. He turned his head away from Finn.


    ¡°I was mad. I was wrong. None of this blight business was ever your fault.¡±


    Finn blew out a slow exhale and rubbed the tip of his nose with the side of his hand a few times.


    ¡°I accept. Thank you, Donal.¡±


    They settled their heads into their pillows and wound their brains down for sleep.


    ¡°Now, was that so hard?¡± Finn asked.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°I guess not,¡± Donal said with a sniff and a chuckle.


    ¡°At least not as hard as this.¡±


    He reached behind his head and pulled out his pillow, held it above his head and slammed it in his brother¡¯s face. Finn must have had his eyes closed; he made no attempt to raise his arms to block it.


    ¡°You eejit,¡± Finn said, laughing. ¡°Now you can apologize for that, too.¡±


    ¡°Only if it gets me my pillow back,¡± Donal said.


    ****


    Finn walked up to Niall¡¯s wagon and handed Donal the last bag to be brought from inside. Donal laid it behind the array of bags, leaving enough room for two of them to sit in the cargo room with comfort. Donal had little hope that he would spend the trip anywhere but in the rear.


    He stood in the back of the wagon and surveyed the yard. Murrough had Reatha harnessed to his own wagon. The cargo area looked roomier with just three bags and no people inside. Maeve hung two bags over the saddle of her obsidian-colored draught horse, Sc¨¢th. Niall had just finished the same task on his own grey draught horse, Airgid. Finn walked to the front of the wagon where G¨¢la was harnessed.


    ¡°Uncle, do us a favor?¡± Finn asked as he rubbed his hand up the horse¡¯s muzzle.


    ¡°Name it,¡± Murrough said


    ¡°Could you tend to what little we have growing back home?¡±


    ¡°On the night you were taken, I talked to the O¡¯Gallaghers down the road from you,¡± Murrough said. ¡°They¡¯ll do what they can, but you boys should be ready to help them with their harvest when this is over.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be the worst thing if we don¡¯t survive this?¡± Donal said.


    Siobhan saw Donal¡¯s self-satisfaction with his joke as she emerged from the house.


    ¡°I see your brother¡¯s having a moment of pure class,¡± she said to Finn.


    Murrough did Donal a service and pretended he wasn¡¯t paying attention. Donal climbed down from his pedestal atop the wagon and sought a less conspicuous place in the yard near the stables.


    ¡°Come here to me Murrough,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Are you just going to patrol the north road while we¡¯re gone¡ªone lone granddad against the wild hordes?¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I will head back to my hut near the Crossroads and ask around about the dullahan. Gavin¡¯s leaving tomorrow to join me there and maybe spend a day fixing it up so the neighbors don¡¯t complain.¡±


    He winked at Siobhan.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m off back through the Forelands to Meenalough, before I return.¡±


    ¡°The state of your hut would be at the end of any list of grievances we have against you,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Just don¡¯t keep Gavin too long, yeah? We¡¯re waiting on him to bring something down to Doe soon.¡±


    Murrough nodded. He gestured for the brothers to join him at his wagon.


    ¡°Watch out for each other,¡± he said.


    ¡°Donal, pace yourself. It¡¯s not enough to be brave, strong or skilled. You have to be patient and let things happen in their own time. I know that¡¯s much harder for you than it is for most people. Listen to Niall. Trust Siobhan. Stand by Finn.¡±


    ¡°I will, Uncle.¡±


    ¡°What am I meant to do, Murrough?¡± Finn asked. ¡°I¡¯ve had one afternoon of training and the one person I¡¯ve ever fought is Donal.¡±


    ¡°Siobhan will help you,¡± Murrough said. ¡°There will be several chances along the way for instruction. She¡¯s not a fil¨ª, but there is a wee bit of crossover in elemental magic used by fil¨ª and druids, even if it¡¯s often pulled from different planes.¡±


    Finn looked up at Siobhan, seated in the front of Niall¡¯s wagon. She drove her fists into her hips but failed to keep a war chieftain¡¯s scowl. Murrough handed Donal a thick book with a worn cover.


    ¡°Take this,¡± he said. ¡°It will help with any holes her druidic background can¡¯t fill.¡±


    ¡°Poets, Seancha¨ª, Bards and¡ª,¡± said Finn. ¡°I know this one.¡±


    ¡°You read it a time or two as a boy,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I imagine it will resonate with you even more on your next read. Do me a favor, Finn?¡±


    ¡°Name it,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Amid all your fretting over Donal, don¡¯t forget to take care of yourself out there, too.¡±


    Murrough looked over Finn¡¯s shoulder at Niall¡¯s wagon and then back at Finn. He smiled and hugged them together.


    ¡°I love you boys.¡±


    ¡°Alright everyone, enough of this,¡± Niall said. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    He squatted to give his sheep dog a thorough pet of the head and neck.


    ¡°Not this time, boy. I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡±


    ¡°Come on, P¨²c,¡± Murrough said.


    Murrough lifted the dog into the back of his wagon. It circled twice and sat down. Once it realized Niall wouldn¡¯t join them it laid down and rested its chin on a paw, watching its master with a mournful look.


    Niall waved his arms in an attempt to shoo everyone to their assigned spots. Maeve climbed atop Sc¨¢th, Niall mounted Airgid.


    ¡°Join me, won¡¯t you, lads?¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Wait! This time Donal rides in back.¡±


    Donal rolled his eyes and hopped in the cargo area. His eyes caught the solitary horse in the stables.


    ¡°Niall, what about this one?¡±


    ¡°C¨¢emaid?¡± Niall said. ¡°Gavin¡¯s taking her tomorrow.¡±


    Murrough led the group out of the yard and around the bay head. Niall¡¯s group headed for Dunfanaghy and waved to Murrough as he turned east just shy of town. As Donal watched his uncle ride for The Crossroads, Ards Beg and all points near home, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling he was sitting in the wrong wagon.

 16) The hungry / First camp

    ¡°What¡¯s that thing in the lake?¡± Donal asked.


    Dunfanaghy had come and gone. Their wagon followed Niall and Maeve past the city limit of Portnablagh. Now Finn squinted his eyes at an unnaturally circular mound in the middle of Sessaigh Lake.


    ¡°It¡¯s a crannog,¡± Finn said. ¡°Ancestors built homes on man-made islets or even on top of the water.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Protection. They were harder to attack. And it was easier to fish?¡±


    ¡°So they just hopped into a currach and rowed to shore before they did everything?¡±


    ¡°Sure look, it was worth the¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªYou have no clue why they built these crannogs,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°I¡­ do not,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Can you at least tell me the name of the mountain above it?¡±


    Finn rose his chin to the sky.


    ¡°Knocknafaugher,¡± he said.


    ¡°Siobhan?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right this time, Donal,¡± she said. ¡°It is Knocknafaugher.¡±


    Finn jerked his head backward.


    ¡°Oi! I was right before about the crannog. I simply wasn¡¯t around when they built it to know why.¡±


    She patted him on the side of his shoulder.


    ¡°If you say so.¡±


    She turned back to Donal and flashed a wink with the eye opposite from Finn, but it wasn¡¯t subtle enough. He pointed at both of them.


    ¡°The last thing I need is you two¡ª¡±


    ¡°Houl yer whisht!¡± Niall said. ¡°Something¡¯s happening up ahead.¡±


    A crowd of dozen people huddled on the side of the road. Their clothing was drab and worn at the sleeves and bottoms.


    As his group neared, Donal could see moth holes in many of their clothes. Their shirts weren¡¯t brown, they were muddy. Their heads were speckled with bald spots. Worse yet, they suffered from a level of hunger he had never seen. Their skin was nothing but a leather covering for bone.


    Finn raised his eyeline above the crowd.


    ¡°Is that another portal tomb?¡± he asked.


    Donal traced the road behind the strangers. Two hundred yards beyond them stood two shapes: a church built out of stone and a partially collapsed heap of rock resembling the one he entered at Ards Beg.


    Niall dismounted 40 feet from the strangers. He shifted his right hand toward his sword but upon further study of the shambling mob, he instead withdrew a knobby walking stick from Airgid¡¯s saddle. He stepped in front of his horse and leaned on the stick as he awaited the inching crowd.


    ¡°Dia daoibh,¡± he said.


    None of the strangers responded. Some of them raised their heads, their yellow eyes fixated on Niall.


    ¡°What¡¯s the sickness that makes their eyes do that?¡± Donal whispered to Finn.


    ¡°Jaundice,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure it¡¯s that,¡± Siobhan said.


    They were within fifteen feet of Niall. He slid his stick up his right hand and dropped the knobby end in his left.


    ¡°Come on, fellas. There¡¯s no need to be rude.¡±


    The closest stranger to Niall raised his arms and opened his mouth. At once all visible eyes glowed in a color of sickly wheat. Niall took the bottom of his stick in both hands and brought it back over his right shoulder.


    ¡°Maeve, if you would,¡± Niall said.


    An arrow protruded from the stranger¡¯s chest within the blink of an eye. Donal was so focused on the mob he didn¡¯t see Maeve knock her arrow. She pulled another from the quiver that hung on Sc¨¢th¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I think these are Fear Gorta,¡± Finn said. ¡°They look similar to what I¡¯ve read, but their behavior is all wrong.¡±


    ¡°Not sure the lesson is helping anyone, lad,¡± Niall yelled.


    He struck another creature in the chest with his club.


    ¡°Then you¡¯re going to hate this,¡± Finn said. ¡°You can¡¯t hit ¡®em.¡±


    Maeve lowered her bow and wrinkled her nose at Finn.


    ¡°Says you. What are we meant to do, then?¡±


    Siobhan threw the reins in Finn¡¯s lap, leapt out of the wagon and ran to Niall.


    ¡°Normally, you give them food,¡± Finn said. ¡°Either way, striking them brings that person bad fortune.¡±


    ¡°A worse fortune than letting Niall get eaten by these things?¡± Maeve asked.


    She raised her bow for another shot.


    ¡°Niall, get back on your horse,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Hold your bow, Maeve. Finn, be ready.¡±


    She pulled her arms back and threw them forward.


    ¡°G¨¢eth nerto!¡±


    The first row of creatures blew backwards into the rest, knocking all twelve to the ground. She jumped to the right of the group behind her.


    ¡°Go!¡± She yelled.


    Maeve kicked her legs, driving her horse forward. Niall mounted Airgid and followed. Finn directed G¨¢la to the left, giving Siobhan a wide berth. She ran forward, crowding the wagon as it caught up.


    Donal dropped to his knees and found a hold along the side of the wagon with his left hand. He held out his right for Siobhan and jerked with both arms as Siobhan climbed into the cargo area.


    ¡°Is that more of them ahead?¡± Niall asked.


    Donal looked up from Siobhan and saw a hazy outline of more people on the other side of the church and tomb.


    ¡°We need to get off this road,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°Up ahead! There¡¯s a road on the left,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like much,¡± Niall said. ¡°Do we know if it cuts all the way through?¡±


    ¡°Better than getting surrounded by those things,¡± she said.


    ¡°Better for you two, perhaps,¡± Finn said. ¡°I can¡¯t weave this thing between trees. If the road stops, they will close in and catch us.¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°At the rate they¡¯re walking?¡± Donal asked. ¡°We could build a house by the time they do.¡±


    Siobhan scrambled to the front.


    ¡°You worry about making the turn safely, Finn,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll slow them down once we leave the road.¡±


    She twitched her head to the side.


    ¡°If they can go any slower, that is.¡±


    Niall followed Maeve down the covered side road. Finn pulled on the rein to slow the wagon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about tipping,¡± Finn said. ¡°Take the reins, then.¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    Finn pulled G¨¢la to the left and winced as the wheels left the road. The wagon bounced between the edges of the worn trail.


    ¡°As steady as you can,¡± Siobhan said to Finn.


    She turned to the rear and moved her arms in a circle.


    ¡°For¨¢sa f¨²alascach!¡±


    A rustling sound emerged behind him. The ground wrinkled and cracked. Roots climbed out of the cracks. Within seconds branches extended from the roots and began to bud. Leaves filled the gaps between the branches until they formed a hedge four feet in height. Donal no longer saw the main road.


    ¡°I¡¯m too far away to do anymore,¡± she said.


    She took the reins from Finn with a nod and a smile.


    ¡°Oh, is that all?¡± Donal asked. ¡°I was hoping to get some fruit out of the deal.¡±


    ¡°You can always go back and check,¡± she said over her shoulder. ¡°I might have outdone myself this time.¡±


    ¡°That you have, Shiv,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Siobhan,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Does anybody in this wagon care where we are or where this road leads?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Are we going to a different place than the two horses immediately in front of us?¡± Donal asked.


    Finn shrugged.


    The road remained level but the terrain around them sloped to the left. The gaps between the larger trees widened and Donal was grateful that the wagon was in Siobhan¡¯s control. The group followed a bend to the right and passed a clearing that surrounded an old ringfort.


    ¡°Here?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°Keep going,¡± Niall yelled ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stop unless I know it has water, and I¡¯d also like to put more distance between us and those things.¡±


    Niall and Maeve slowed their pace once their path descended and the dirt road transitioned into a wider swath of grass. They checked with Siobhan several times to make sure the hill grade was shallow enough to prevent the wagon from overtaking G¨¢la. Light glinted off a river through the thinning coverage of trees on the left until the group had exited the forest and the path leveled with the riverbank.


    The river flowed in tight bends but its current showed no urgency in following the meandering course. Birch trees rose on either side of it, their slender, leafless forms resembling a makeshift fence of large white sticks driven into the soil.


    Niall spotted a ford in the river and called for Finn and Donal to hop down from the wagon on the chance it needed extra encouragement, but Siobhan and G¨¢la crossed without incident. They traveled another quarter mile along the driest part of the marsh until they entered a meadow at the edge of a forest darker than the one they had left.


    ¡°We¡¯ll rest here while we get our bearings,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°For how long?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°We¡¯d been riding for many miles before our encounter,¡± he said. ¡°We pushed the horses hard up and down that forest behind us. They need rest and water and we all could do with some food. It might be evening by the time they¡¯re ready, and I¡¯m not thrilled to navigate an unknown forest I don¡¯t know at night.


    ¡°We just left the main road,¡± said Finn. ¡°That behind us is likely the Carrowmanaddy River. We¡¯re not lost, are we?¡±


    Maeve gestured to the forest ahead with an upturned palm.


    ¡°Lead the way, then,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying that this path will either take us back to the main road, or it will cross a road that does,¡± Finn said.


    Niall looked around the meadow and sighed.


    ¡°I think we should ask ourselves if we want to use the main road and take the chance that nothing else is waiting for us on it.¡±


    ¡°It will take a bit longer, but we can get where we¡¯re going traveling paths like this,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Still, there will be times where we won¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    ¡°Better than nothing,¡± Niall said. ¡°Maeve, scout the road ahead as far as you think best. Siobhan, feed and water the other horses then check the wagon for wear and tear. Finn, we¡¯re going to need wood. Donal, you and I will assemble the shelter. Assuming Maeve doesn¡¯t find any problems with our path, we¡¯ll leave right at dawn to make up for the time we lost today. Crack on.¡±


    ****


    ¡°Go back to sleep,¡± Maeve said. ¡°You¡¯re not keeping watch tonight.¡±


    Donal wiped the sweat from his brow and looked over at her. She stared into the campfire, a wool covering drawn over her shoulders. Niall¡¯s snores sounded from one of the two triangular-framed tents he and Donal built. He marveled at Finn¡¯s and Siobhan¡¯s ability to sleep in Niall¡¯s general townland, much less the same campsite.


    That wasn¡¯t the reason Donal had moved his hide blanket to the back of the wagon on a cool night.


    ¡°Bad dream?¡± Maeve asked.


    Donal fought the urge to react as if that was another slight on his age. Still, he wasn¡¯t eager to lower his guard in front of her. He caught himself straightening his spine and pulling back his shoulders.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she said. ¡°Murrough¡¯s mentioned to us that they plague you.¡±


    ¡°He did?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t some grand speech or anything,¡± she said. ¡°How bad are they?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not say,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯re sort of shameful.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what nightmares are, though. They¡¯re not wishes. I reckon they¡¯re meant to shame you for some reason I¡¯ll never understand.¡±


    ¡°You sure you want to hear ¡®em?¡±


    ¡°Nevermind,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m just going to stare at this fire with nothin¡¯ to do or no one to talk to for the next hour.¡±


    Donal stiffened. It seemed an hour before she smirked.


    ¡°Alright, remember that you asked,¡± he said.


    ¡°The first one was standard fare. I was hiding behind a wagon like a coward while a dullahan struck you all down. Then there was the one where Finn was captured by another dullahan¡ªor maybe the same one¡ªand all I could do was watch and listen as they rode into the distance to his cries of pain. The worst one was this last one. Finn and I were back at the cliffs near Horn Head. He told me that I couldn¡¯t come with you all on this journey. We started to argue and poke at each other until I got mad and shoved him over.¡±


    ¡°They were all so vivid,¡± he said.


    Maeve lifted her eyebrows and nodded at the fire.


    Every second lasted ten. Every muscle twitch in her face was a flooded river in spring: a slow, inevitable portent of doom.


    This is what you get when you tell others, Shadow told Donal. You¡¯ll never have anything but polite small talk with her again.


    She turned her head to Donal and met his eyes.


    Here it comes.


    The left side of her mouth pulled up into a strained grin.


    ¡°That would keep me awake at night,¡± she said.


    Donal fought every urge to move or even smile. Her dark eyes scanned his face from hair to chin. Donal felt like prey on the other side of her bow, just as he did during dinner at Niall¡¯s. She wrinkled her eyebrows.


    ¡°That¡¯s not all, is it?¡± she asked.


    You got lucky once, Shadow told him. You haven¡¯t told Murrough yet, and Finn treated you like a wounded lamb when you let it slip to him. Don¡¯t do it. Don¡¯t tell her.


    ¡°I hear things,¡± he said. ¡°I think about things I don¡¯t want in my head. Once in a while I even see things.¡±


    Maeve slowly dipped her head and brought it back up.


    ¡°Things like¡­?¡±


    You fool. You can¡¯t take a statement like that back, so might as well tell her. Just remember: you brought this upon yourself.


    ¡°It¡¯s like a voice inside my head that¡¯s not mine or my parents,¡± Donal said. ¡°Always pickin¡¯ at me and tearing me down. It says worse things to me than anyone¡¯s ever said. Sometimes I get flashes of things that should be in a nightmare, but they¡¯d be as plain as sitting next to you in the campfire.¡±


    ¡°And these thoughts you spoke of,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Are they telling you things like, ¡®push your eejit brother off a cliff?¡¯¡±


    Her delivery pried a chuckle out of Donal, despite its subject matter. He drew his mouth back down as penance.


    ¡°Nothing on that level, but they can get awful from time to time.¡±


    ¡°How long has this been happening? Your whole life?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he said. ¡°I remember things were easier when I was a boy¡ªoi!¡±


    He caught Maeve¡¯s grin.


    ¡°You know what I mean. Things were easy, things were fun. I got sick when I was ten years old, and that¡¯s when this whole mess in my head got started. Sometimes it feels like a stranger moved in.¡±


    ¡°These things, these nightmares, are they things you want?¡± she asked. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be the first person who didn¡¯t like your family.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that, I¡ª¡±


    He paused and stared at the tent, listening for the slightest rustle.


    ¡°I love the tool. Can¡¯t ever say it to him, though.¡±


    ¡°Because that¡¯s not what lads do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think,¡± he said with a laugh, ¡°but every time I say it, I wind up thinking about the awful things I¡¯ve done to him.¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯s never mistreated you?¡±


    ¡°Not in the same way I mistreat him.¡±


    ¡°So what I¡¯m hearing is these things are awful and you aren¡¯t able to block them out, but they¡¯re not a real part of you and that you know how you really feel.¡±


    She pointed her thumb to her chest.


    ¡°In here, that is. Do I have that right?¡±


    Donal wrinkled his forehead and looked at the ground below the wagon. Maeve boiled something that has tormented him for years down to its essence in two sentences.


    ¡°I suppose so,¡± he said. ¡°Sure look, it sounds like you got the answers, you wouldn¡¯t happen to have the fix?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound to me like something that can be fixed,¡± she said. ¡°But maybe with enough time it could be mended. But that¡¯s an easy thing for anyone to say when they don¡¯t have to do the work for you.¡±


    He glanced away. It was his turn to raise his eyebrows and nod at the fire.


    ¡°Can I ask you a question, Maeve?¡±


    She narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°You can, but I might refuse an answer.¡±


    ¡°You don''t seem the sharing type but you¡¯ve been grand listening to me go on about myself. None of it seemed to shake you. Where¡¯d you learn to dole out advice like that?¡±


    She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. She pointed to the forest ahead of them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve spent a lot of time alone running, hiding, and hunting in woods like these. I suppose a person has to make peace with their own mind along the way or they won¡¯t last long doing it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for it,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. You should really try to sleep, though. It¡¯s likely Niall will push us hard tomorrow.¡±


    Donal smiled and raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need the company?¡±


    Maeve threw her head back and laughed. The smile she showed Donal would have beamed even without the campfire that reflected off her face.


    ¡°I¡¯ll grant that you aren¡¯t a boy, but I won¡¯t feed any notions you might be carrying. O¨ªche mhaith, young man. Off with ya.¡±


    ¡°Good night, Maeve,¡± Donal said.


    He laid back and closed his eyes. For the first time in weeks, he liked his chances of a peaceful rest¡ªfor however long Niall would allow.


    <hr>

 17) Cashelmore

    ¡°I thought we¡¯re leaving at dawn,¡± Donal said with a groan. ¡°The sun¡¯s not up yet.¡±


    Niall shifted his end of disassembled tent boards to a shoulder and pointed to the golden tops of the forest behind them.


    ¡°Sun¡¯s up; we¡¯re late.¡±


    Finn returned from the Carrowmanaddy and handed each person a filled water skin.


    ¡°You pulled it from the flowing river itself?¡± Niall asked. ¡°Not some bog puddle?¡±


    Finn wrinkled his face and pulled his head back.


    ¡°Of course I did,¡± he said. ¡°Right until the river ran out of water. I had to fill yours up from the pool of water that formed in my muddy footprint.¡±


    ¡°Shut your bake, and help them finish loading,¡± Niall said.


    Niall shook his head and looked at Donal as they slid the boards into the wagon.


    ¡°Your brother can be a bit of a dose sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but it just makes you all appreciate me more.¡±


    ¡°Does it, now?¡± Niall said.


    Siobhan dumped dirty water from the two small wash buckets on the fire. Maeve checked the horses one last time.


    ¡°Are we ready?¡± Niall asked. ¡°No jokes.¡±


    ¡°Ready,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll walk with the horses while we¡¯re in the forest and out of the sun,¡± Niall said.


    He cast an eye to the sky, then looked at the brothers.


    ¡°Put on your mantles if you haven¡¯t yet done so.¡±


    ¡°I left them back home,¡± Donal said. ¡°Murrough told me to pack for a few days. It¡¯s been five days since. I¡¯m not cold anyway.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point of it,¡± said Niall.


    Niall nodded to Siobhan. She reached into one of her larger bags and pulled out two long green cloaks trimmed in black and threw one at each of the brothers.


    ¡°Green?¡± said Finn. ¡°I thought your family colors were red and yellow. That¡¯s what your mam wears.¡±


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t MacSweeney colors. She was an O¡¯Donnell before she was a MacSweeney,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Between us, I think she still wears her family¡¯s colors because she likes how she looks in red.¡±


    Donal noticed her smile fade as she turned away.


    ¡°Fine,¡± said Niall. ¡°Can we go now?¡±


    They walked south into the forest. Within ten minutes the trees around them stretched thirty to forty feet above their heads. Sunlight found its way to the forest floor with only moderate resistance from the oaks and Scots pines interspersed among the slender white trunks of aspen and birch. The stagnant smell of the bog gave way to the scent of pine and damp dirt.


    The road ahead rose to meet a saddle between two hills. Worried of the unseen descent, Niall opted for a smaller trail on level ground. The trail circumnavigated the eastern hill and rejoined the main road on the other side.


    The sun was more than an hour from midday and retreating behind light clouds as murky as soapy water. The trees around them leaned away from the darker skies approaching from the right.


    ¡°Mount up,¡± Niall said. ¡°Maeve, you trail.¡±


    Maeve climbed Sc¨¢th and held her in place until Siobhan led the wagon past. The forest retreated from the left side of the road behind a cemetery. Roofs of several homes peaked over the trees in the distance.


    ¡°Cashelmore,¡± Niall said. ¡°We¡¯d have to leave the main road to get there.¡±


    The group pulled their hoods forward as heavy droplets of rain slowly thumped around them.


    ¡°Any more of the fear gortas?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it,¡± Niall said.


    Four men approached from the other side of the cemetery. All of them wore hauberks. The lead man wore spaulders on his broad shoulders and a Norman helmet that covered the bridge of his nose, the straightness of the nasal guard betraying the misalignment of a previous break. His greatsword was unsheathed and he held it over his right shoulder behind his head.


    The two men that flanked him wore spangenhelms with leather straps over their ears. Their short swords were sheathed, and the stronger of the two held the opening of a bag he had flung over his back.


    ¡°Howya, fellas?¡± Niall asked as they approached.


    None of them said a word or even looked at Donal¡¯s group. The front three men marched in step without pause.


    The fourth man tucked himself behind the wedge created by his comrades. The hauberk he wore hung lower than the rest. He carried no weapons and wore no helmet. Donal suspected the rain wasn¡¯t the reason his hood was pulled forward.


    As the wagon pulled even with the group, the last man raised his head and stared straight at Donal. The thick hair that hung between his hood and his head was black and curly. His long, gaunt face ended in a pronounced chin.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    An unknown force grabbed Donal¡¯s stomach from inside his body. The longer that the man held Donal¡¯s gaze, the more his stomach was squeezed, twisted and pulled. With each pull the green in the man¡¯s irises pulsed with more color.


    A tap on the shoulder broke the connection. Donal turned to his brother.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be staring at people,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I swear to you that he started it,¡± Donal said. ¡°Do us a favor, don¡¯t prod him on that, though. The man seems off, and his friends seem ready for a fight.¡±


    Donal and Finn looked at the men walking away. Green Eyes looked forward as if Donal was never there.


    Their mantles were fairly ornate: a muted violet color with black trim. The three more traditional-looking warriors had a patch sewn onto the middle of their cloak with an image of a yellow lion with goat horns. The cloak worn by Green Eyes had the horned lion depiction embroidered directly onto his mantle.


    Niall stopped the group once they reached the next crossing.


    ¡°Did you see those shapers?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°They were hard to miss,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°The state of ¡®em, walking in formation between towns in full chainmail and helmets, yer man holding that sword on his shoulder as if he¡¯s off to battle.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he was,¡± Donal said. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re off to fight the fear gortas?¡±


    ¡°They might run into ¡®em, and they may fight ¡®em, but that bit back there felt more like they were putting on a show for us and anyone else they see on the road.¡±


    ¡°Donal mentioned the smaller one hiding in the back was a bit off,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree.¡±


    ¡°Between the creatures and those men, I¡¯d say a lot of things are off,¡± Niall said. ¡°Let¡¯s head into Cashelmore and ask around. Maybe we¡¯ll eat, too.¡±


    ¡°Did we bring money?¡± Donal asked.


    Donal couldn¡¯t remember the last meal he ate that wasn¡¯t in his or a friend¡¯s house. With all they had packed, he assumed it would be campfire meals most of the way.


    Niall pointed to Siobhan.


    ¡°We each brought our own funds. That¡¯s all you need to know and more than you need to tell anyone else.¡±


    They turned east and stopped in front of a building at the first main crossing in town. It was the largest in its vicinity. In addition to two horse stalls, there had been two separate attempts to expand the structure, judging by the color and age of the wood used.


    Niall and Maeve rode their horses up to the front door and tied them to a beam next to the building. Siobhan maneuvered G¨¢la down the street and brought the wagon to the building in a more favorable position where she tied the horse up as well.


    ¡°I¡¯ll hang back with the horses to see how the locals respond before I come in,¡± said Maeve. ¡°Who knows? Maybe they¡¯re the talkative kind.¡±


    Donal followed Finn through the front door. It resembled a giant house with none of the coziness. Four large tables were set up in the common room, all empty at the moment. A pot of perpetual stew hung over the fire.


    ¡°It¡¯s a little early to be needing a bed,¡± the innkeeper said. ¡°Food, is it?¡±


    ¡°Five bowls, please,¡± Siobhan said as she handed the grey-haired man some coin.


    ¡°There are four of you. One of you eatin¡¯ twice?¡±


    ¡°Our other friend will join us soon.¡±


    The innkeeper grabbed a stack of five bowls from a chest near the kitchen and limped to the fireplace. Finn followed him.


    ¡°Would you like any help with that, Mr.?¡±


    ¡°O¡¯Doherty. I¡¯ll be fine, go sit at one of the boards and I¡¯ll bring it to you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I will.¡±


    ¡°Is this place yours?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°Not anymore. It¡¯s my son¡¯s now. He¡¯s working the fields at his own house. He¡¯ll be in later this evening.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here a while, yeah?¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Mr. O¡¯Doherty said.


    He sat the first two bowls down in front of Siobhan and Donal.


    ¡°Have you seen anything unusual lately?¡± Finn asked.


    The old man hesitated on his way back to the fireplace before he reached for another bowl to fill.


    ¡°That depends on what you mean by ¡®unusual¡¯ and ¡®recent,¡¯ lad.¡±


    ¡°Say the last six months or so,¡± Finn said. ¡°Any talk of odd things happening north of town? Or even in town?¡±


    ¡°At a place like this? I hear a lot of odd things every night. Most of them are exaggerations brought on by the ale, but as of late travelers from the south talk about horses and cows going missing, even a few people.¡±


    ¡°Did you say from the south?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°Creeslough, Tearmann, those places,¡± the old man said.


    ¡°But no reports from the north?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Not particularly,¡± Mr. O¡¯Doherty said.


    The old man set down the next two bowls and turned to fill the final order.


    ¡°Well, you have one now,¡± Niall said. ¡°Anyone going up toward Portnablagh needs to travel carefully and in numbers.¡±


    ¡°And with a fair amount of food,¡± Finn said.


    Niall pursed his lips at Finn and shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ keep that in mind,¡± the old man said.


    ¡°Say, as we were coming into town we passed some men,¡± Niall said. ¡°Purple cloaks, an odd lion with horns in the middle of ¡®em. Know anything about these men?¡±


    The old man froze again, this time short of their table. He looked at the front door as if a bandit just kicked it down.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can help you,¡± he said.


    Siobhan dropped some more coin on the table.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you¡¯re afraid of, but we mean you no harm,¡± she said


    He eyed Siobhan for a few seconds. With another glance at the door, he sat down next to the group and leaned in.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen them outside the church lately,¡± Mr. O¡¯Doherty said in a hushed voice. ¡°I think they¡¯re stirring up trouble. They got this lad, Brady, and he¡¯s telling people around there that our farming problems are because we¡¯re straying from the Norman and Catholic ways.¡±


    Niall and Siobhan shared a confused look.


    ¡°Brady¡ªCould his name be Breaslin?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s the name,¡± the old man said.


    ¡°Do you believe what they are saying about the blight?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been around a long time,¡± Mr. O¡¯Doherty said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen good and bad harvests, and I¡¯ve seen people trying to attach all manner of causes between the two. We¡¯ve been ¡®straying¡¯ from the Norman ways for a hundred years or so. I don¡¯t why it would come to a head at this particular moment. It¡¯s just too convenient.¡±


    Niall flipped a coin of his own to Mr. O¡¯Doherty.


    ¡°Good man,¡± Niall said. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about what we said about going north from here.¡±


    The old man smiled.


    ¡°Your friend¡¯s still waiting outside, right? Would you like me to take this bowl out to them?¡±


    ¡°Not as much as she would,¡± Niall said.


    The innkeeper nodded and carried the bowl out the front door.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Finn said. ¡°Breaslin¡¯s Fomori, right? At least half-Fomori, that is. What does he have to gain by turning the Normans and Christians against his own Gaelic people?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re assuming that he considers all Gaelic people ¡®his own,¡¯¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°The more people he gets to fight amongst each other, the less people there are to pay attention to what he¡¯s actually doing,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°Which is?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Something we hope to find out when we get down to Gartan,¡± Niall said. ¡°We should get going soon. Sounds like we have to be careful where we set up camp tonight.¡±


    ¡°And why can¡¯t we get rooms here?¡± Donal asked. ¡°A straw bed is better than sleeping on grass or in a wagon.¡±


    ¡°We have more control over our surroundings,¡± said Niall. ¡°I suspect as we go further south we may run into more of our purple friends. I don¡¯t want to put us in a position of guessing which locals we can trust.¡±


    ¡°It also gives us space¡ªand privacy¡ªto train. Maybe townspeople won¡¯t bat an eye at Donal and I sparring on the green, but you two practicing spells in public is another matter. You two could become the symbol of that nonsense Breaslin is spreading.¡±


    The old man returned to the common room holding the bowl meant for Maeve, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Did Maeve refuse your food?¡±


    ¡°Our apologies,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Sometimes when we¡¯re on the road she can get a bit curt.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that at all,¡± Mr. O¡¯Doherty said.


    He turned the bowl to show the table.


    ¡°She just tipped the bowl back and ate the stew in two passes,¡± the old man said.


    ¡°I suppose we¡¯re late, then,¡± said Niall. ¡°Let¡¯s all finish up so we don¡¯t keep her waiting too long.¡±

 18) The bat

    Finn shifted his eyes away from the glowing embers under the campfire¡¯s flame.


    It¡¯s just a bug or a small bird, he told himself. You¡¯re being paranoid.


    The trip down from Cashelmore was uneventful. They reached the Faymore River by late afternoon. Niall led them off the road and behind a dense grove of trees.


    ¡°This is perfect,¡± Niall had told them. ¡°We¡¯re close to the road and these trees give us cover from passers-by, yet we know the road is on the other side of these trees. The river protects us from anything in town wandering north.¡±


    Niall was so pleased with the security of the site that he tapped Finn for his first shift of night watch. Aside from the disruption of his sleep, Finn was happy for the chance. He had spent the first ten minutes of his watch amazed at the force behind Niall¡¯s snores. Finn started to wonder if he snored in his sleep and what the ladies might think of it if he did.


    Over the last few minutes, however, a new distraction occupied him. It started with a single slice through the air behind him. The next passed closer to left ear.


    Was that an arrow?


    Finn didn¡¯t hear it strike or land behind him.


    It¡¯s just a bug or a small bird. You¡¯re being paranoid.


    One more pass, this time it came from a different direction entirely.


    Owls don¡¯t dive at people like this.


    He stepped away from the campfire to let his eyes adjust to the dark. Another pass. This time the breeze rustled his hair. The form of a bat passed between him and the fire. Finn started to wave his arms about his head.


    ¡°Shoo, you bleedin¡¯ rat.¡±


    The bat¡¯s wing grazed his temple. He ducked into the mens¡¯ tent and jostled Niall¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Niall!¡± Finn said. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sitting there and this bat keeps buzzing about my head.¡±


    ¡°Did you say, ¡®bat?¡¯¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s swooped past me ten times now,¡± Finn said. ¡°Not near me. At me.¡±


    Niall pointed to the sword on Finn¡¯s waist.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a sword of legend and you¡¯re waking me over a bat? Was I wrong thinking you could handle two hours of watch?¡±


    ¡°Sorry. You¡¯re right. Go back to sleep.¡±


    Finn dipped out of the tent. He walked to the other side of the fire and drew his sword. He flailed at the bat¡¯s first two passes. His fourth swipe missed the bat by inches. He circled around the fire and caught its reflection in the eyes of the oncoming bat. He swung and the bat disappeared into a cloud of mist as the blade touched its neck.


    The answer washed over Finn¡¯s brain from front to back:


    This sword isn¡¯t going to work on an ¨¢vertach. You need wood.


    ¡°¨¢vertach?¡± Finn muttered. ¡°The old story about the monster who drinks¡ªOI! Everybody out of bed!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± Maeve said. ¡°We¡¯re not leavin¡¯ at dawn again, are we?¡±


    ¡°We are not,¡± Niall said. ¡°Lad, you don¡¯t need to rouse all of us to take care of one bleedin¡¯ bat.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a bat,¡± Finn said. ¡°It¡¯s the ¨¢vertach. Or maybe an ¨¢vertach. Get out here, now!¡±


    Siobhan scrambled out of her tent first, the other three soon after.


    ¡°What did you call that thing?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°An ¨¢vertach,¡± Finn said. ¡°It can change shapes, it wants to drink your¡ªjust, don¡¯t let it bite you on the neck.¡±


    As if on command the bat turned into a misty cloud and then assumed a human form on the southern edge of camp. He was a bit shorter than average height, but not a dwarf as told by folklore. Its red cloak draped on the ground around him, a hood covering the upper half of its shriveled grey face. He sneered at Finn, exposing several sharpened teeth. He raised its right hand and displayed five talons where its fingernails should have been.


    The group of them stood around the fire. Siobhan and Niall stood to Finn¡¯s left and right. Maeve and Donal stood on the opposite side of the fire from Finn, next to the tents. The four younger travelers glanced at each other for answers.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± said Donal.


    ¡°We can only kill it with wood¡ªyew, hazel or ash preferably,¡± Finn said. ¡°My sword isn¡¯t of much use, Donal¡¯s spear has a metal point, and whatever damage Niall¡¯s mace does won¡¯t be permanent. What are your arrows made of, Maeve?¡±


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Ash, mostly,¡± she said.


    The ¨¢vertach looked at Maeve, then Siobhan.


    ¡°He¡¯s making a move,¡± Niall said. ¡°Get after it, Donal.¡±


    Donal and Niall approached the creature from both sides but it streaked past them in a blur before they could hit it. The ¨¢vertach took the form of a bat, flew over the fire to a point behind Siobhan.


    She spun around to face the creature. Donal changed course and sprinted between the tents and the fire toward Siobhan. Finn, too, ran towards her. Maeve knocked an arrow and raised her bow after their enemy regained human form. Siobhan dodged a swipe from the ¨¢vertach and swung at it with her staff, but it stepped away from her attack.


    The ¨¢vertach raised its head and stared at Donal. He changed into a bat to avoid Maeve¡¯s shot and flew towards Donal. It broke to the left, away from Donal, and landed behind Maeve. Finn, Donal and Siobhan ran to their ranger.


    ¡°It¡¯s toying with you!¡± Niall yelled. ¡°It¡¯s got you running around like hounds in a forest chasing a squirrel. Form up. Anticipate. Strike.¡±


    Niall¡¯s advice was lost in the heat of the moment. The ¨¢vertach pointed at Donal before resuming its bat form.


    ¡°He¡¯s going for Donal!¡± Finn yelled. ¡°Be ready.¡±


    The bat hung in the air over Donal until Maeve, Siobhan and Finn were within arm¡¯s reach of him. It then flew across the fire and landed in front of Niall.


    ¡°Maeve!¡± Siobhan yelled. ¡°You¡¯re going to get one off before it shifts again.¡±


    Maeve pulled another arrow from the quiver on her waist and knocked it on her bowstring.


    In a blur the ¨¢vertach slid behind Niall, tearing at his right arm in the process. Niall cried out and fell to a knee, grabbing the wound on his upper arm. He didn¡¯t see that the creature behind him was leaning in to bite his neck, but he did see Maeve in time to hit the ground and watch the ¨¢vertach¡¯s reaction as the arrow pierced it in the shoulder.


    The ¨¢vertach stood, wheezing in pain. It looked at the three people approaching and turned to run south toward the bridge that led into Creeslough. The creature¡¯s body jerked¡ªperhaps an an attempt to change shape¡ªyet it remained in human form.


    ¡°Niall, how bad is it?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You four have to go get it and dispose of it properly. Finn, I assume you know what I mean by that?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± said Finn.


    He and Siobhan squatted next to Niall and examined his arm. The four lacerations below the shoulder were bleeding as expected, but a pale green bruise had formed around each wound.


    Maeve had untied Sc¨¢th and rode up next to the group on the ground.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Siobhan,¡± she said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t, look at his arm. I need to do something quickly or I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll lose it.¡±


    ¡°Boys?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re coming,¡± Donal called.


    He had untied the G¨¢la and was bringing her to his brother.


    ¡°Finn, you¡¯re better with her.¡±


    ¡°Remind us to get you on a horse, boyo,¡± Niall said to Donal.


    Niall could only speak in between compressed breaths.


    Finn looked at Siobhan.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to be alright?¡±


    Her grin traveled no farther upward than her cheeks.


    ¡°Just who do you think you¡¯re talking to? Go!¡±


    Finn stood up and ran for G¨¢la.


    ¡°Finn, here,¡± Siobhan said.


    She threw her staff to him.


    ¡°That¡¯s mostly alder wood, but we¡¯ve woven some yew, ash and hazel within it. You¡¯re going to need it to stop that thing for good.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know any druidic spells,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need a spell to hit someone upside their head with a staff.¡±


    ¡°I suppose not,¡± he said. ¡°Maeve, get after that thing and put as many arrows as you can in it. We can¡¯t lose it.¡±


    Maeve rolled her eyes and was almost out of earshot by the time he finished his sentence. Finn mounted G¨¢la and pulled his brother up behind him.


    ¡°Watch that spear,¡± he said.


    He kicked his heels and steered the horse to the stone bridge. They crossed it and rode past the woods on the other side. They were gaining on Maeve, if only because she slowed her horse to steady her aim.


    Despite it being wounded and running on foot, they were not overtaking the ¨¢vertach as quickly as Finn hoped. Judging from the sound of the creature she had landed two more arrows as they reached the northernmost houses in town.


    A new sound emerged from their right.


    ¡°Finn! More fear gortas!¡± Donal said.


    Finn looked to his right. Two groups of fear gortas ambled down the first side street to his right. Their backs were to the crescent moon, yet their glowing green eyes followed both horses in pursuit of the ¨¢vertach. In between houses he glimpsed an arrangement of stones a hundred yards west of town. Another portal tomb, no doubt.


    ¡°It¡¯s leaving the road!¡± Maeve shouted.


    ¡°How many arrows do you have left?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Enough¡ªI hope.¡±


    The creature turned left and ran through an empty space between two houses. Maeve stuck another arrow in its back as it turned right behind a house. She was almost too close for a proper shot. Finn, right behind her, flanked it on the other side.


    Worn stones and broken crosses stuck out of a patch of withered ground two hundred yards ahead of them. The air smelled of rotten cabbage and fish. In the middle stood a crypt entrance made of chiseled stone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we want him to reach that place,¡± Finn said. ¡°Donal, throw it!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t hit it from horseback,¡± he said.


    ¡°Should I have left you at the campsite?¡±


    Donal didn¡¯t respond. Finn looked at Maeve, who nodded to Donal.


    Every part of Finn¡¯s body that was in contact with his brother was now warm. Donal let go of his brother¡¯s waist. Finn felt his passenger¡¯s body shift and then saw his brother¡¯s spear impale the creature. Moreover, the spear¡¯s point was embedded in the soil. effectively pinning the ¨¢vertach to the ground.


    Both riders reined in their horses as they passed the creature, still struggling to free either itself or the spear. Maeve hopped down and put another arrow in its torso. The ¨¢vertach slumped down, unable to strain against the spear with anything but its shoulders and hips. Finn ran up, raised Siobhan¡¯s staff over his right shoulder and clubbed the creature as the staff¡¯s master directed.


    ¡°Nice throw, lad,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Apparently I just needed the proper encouragement,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I helped so much,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Donal said. ¡°Right. Yeah, you were a big help.¡±


    He shared a smirk with Maeve. Finn realized he was missing something and idly checked his surroundings for any clue to what it was.


    ¡°What now?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to need a shovel,¡± said Finn. ¡°Maeve, can you run back to camp without further agitating the fear gortas?¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why we can¡¯t give them the same treatment as this one here,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°The tales say they are merely a herald of famine or a response to desecration of land. If you mistreat them you¡¯re supposed to suffer bad luck and hunger, though they lack the specifics as to what that means. The ones we¡¯ve encountered so far seem to have it out for us, even before Niall struck the first one. I can¡¯t figure out what this has to do with Breaslin but it can¡¯t be a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t let them run through the town unchecked, though,¡± she said.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t seem interested in the people inside their houses. First things first, I say. Get the shovel, deal with the ¨¢vertach, see to Niall, and see to the fear gortas. Unless you have a different idea.¡±


    ¡°I do not,¡± she said, ¡°but I just hope you¡¯re right about those things.¡±


    She climbed her horse and rode north along the east side of town.


    ¡°Now we wait?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Now we check out that crypt,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have said that earlier?¡± Donal said. ¡°I could have ridden with Maeve and held the shovel on the way back.¡±

 19) Staying underground / Race to the castle

    The sound of hoofbeats approached from the north. Finn recognized the silhouette as it neared.


    ¡°Siobhan has Niall stable and sleeping,¡± Maeve said. ¡°But he¡¯s noticeably weaker. She can¡¯t cleanse whatever turned his wounds green.¡±


    Maeve dismounted and handed Finn the shovel.


    ¡°She had this yoke waiting for me when I arrived. ¡®Niall¡¯s orders,¡¯ she said.¡±


    She pointed at the chiseled stone slab laying in the withered grass next to the crypt.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°A stone coffin lid we pulled from the crypt. I assume it¡¯s his. We¡¯re going to need it right before we¡¯re done. We¡¯ve got to dig a hole big enough for that thing here and bury this stone over him.¡±


    Finn looked up at the sky. Dawn was coming, but the midnight blue wasn¡¯t letting go yet. He plunged the spade into the ground well behind the crypt. He directed Donal to clear away dirt around the hole as he tossed it out. He handed the spade to Donal after ten minutes to switch jobs.


    ¡°A three-person rotation works better,¡± Maeve said as she pushed away the dirt Donal tossed up.


    ¡°When do I start widening the hole?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± Finn answered. ¡°We¡¯re putting him in headfirst, like ¨¢vertach of legend. He was a tyrant whose people begged a nearby chieftain, to rid them of the him. Turns out he was a dark sorcerer as well. The champion, Cathain, defeated him several times but ¨¢vertach returned from the dead each time, and each time he came back with more cruelty. It was only after they buried him upside down that he stayed in the ground.¡±


    A line of light blue peaked over the horizon. Maeve and Finn each gave Donal a hand and pulled him out. Maeve hopped down. The hole was now deep enough to hinder the digging.


    ¡°You think this is him?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure without checking,¡± Finn said. ¡°¨¢vertach¡¯s supposed grave in the east. But I doubt it. My guess¡ªand it¡¯s only a guess¡ªis whatever magic gave the original ¨¢vertach his cursed powers was put upon this one as well.¡±


    ¡°Why did you two pull out his coffin lid?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°We mean to place it over him,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°To prevent his magic from returning?¡± she asked.


    ¡°To prevent eejits from accidentally digging him up,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°We should probably bury that a little, too,¡± Finn said. ¡°To prevent curiosity and all.¡±


    Finn checked the sky. A faint glow of pale orange emerged from the horizon.


    ¡°We¡¯re out of time,¡± Finn said. ¡°We should be out of sight by the time the locals wake up. Give me a hand, brother.¡±


    The pair pulled Maeve above ground. Together they carried the ¨¢vertach and placed it toes-up in the hole and replaced the dirt. They cleared extra space at the top and capped it with the stone lid before covering it with the remaining dirt.


    ¡°Hopefully nobody notices the fresh pile of dirt until time wears it down,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°It is the best we can hope for,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head back to camp,¡± she said.


    Maeve led them behind the houses on the east side of town until they reached the river. Finn glanced to his left between the passing houses.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any fear gortas,¡± he said to his brother. ¡°Do you?¡±


    ¡°I do not,¡± Donal said. ¡°I was hoping you might have a guess as to why.¡±


    ¡°They would only be guesses,¡± Finn said.


    They crossed the bridge and exited the road left toward camp. Siobhan still knelt over Niall. She had one of the cloaks over his torso and upper legs and propped his head up with his own. His forehead was drenched in sweat and his body shuddered. She stood up as they entered camp and dismounted.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°We took care of it,¡± Maeve said. ¡°How¡¯s Niall?¡±


    ¡°He wakes up for a short time and then goes back under,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°He says his arm is freezing from the inside but he¡¯s sweating like a fever. I was able to close the wounds, but I don¡¯t have any spells or materials to heal the curse.¡±


    ¡°We could get lucky and find a healer here in Creeslough,¡± she said. ¡°But we¡¯ll likely have to run straight through to my grandparents¡¯ castle at Doe. We can make it in a day, but it is several miles away.¡±


    ¡°What about the fear gortas?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°You saw more?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°We saw several in town when we were chasing that thing,¡± he said. ¡°But we didn¡¯t see any on our way back just now.¡±


    Siobhan looked between Niall and the town to the south.


    ¡°Siobhan?¡± Maeve prodded.


    ¡°The last thing I want are those things wandering through a town, but I don¡¯t think we have time to both secure the town and save Niall. Anyone disagree?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we have time to keep talking about it, either,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°It¡¯s settled, then,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Lads, tear down the camp and load the wagons. Maeve, check on the horses. Finn, you¡¯ll take the wagon, I¡¯ll ride with Niall in the back. Donal, you¡¯re on Airgid. Maeve, can you ride behind us and keep him upright?¡±


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°I can,¡± said Maeve, ¡°but have we ruled out tying him to the saddle with some rope?¡±


    Siobhan looked at Maeve with a flat expression but didn¡¯t respond.


    Given what he knew of Maeve and how well she got along with Niall, Finn was caught off guard by how quickly she fell in line behind Siobhan when Niall¡¯s health was in jeopardy.


    ¡°C¡¯mere to me, brother,¡± Donal said. ¡°I¡¯ll show you how to take these Norseman tents of his down.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Finn said. ¡°And we better secure them to the wagon, I have a feeling that we¡¯re flying to Doe.¡±


    ****


    ¡°I know I¡¯m the least experienced rider among us, but are we positive that G¨¢la can keep this pace?¡± Donal shouted over the hoofbeats to the wagon ahead.


    ¡°I suspect that all the horses will get an extended rest once we arrive,¡± Siobhan said.


    She dabbed her patient¡¯s forehead with a spare scrap of linen.


    The road east to Doe Castle was much narrower than the main road. Thickets stretched into the roadway from both sides, reinforced by walls of ash and Scots pine. Siobhan wasn¡¯t exaggerating when she said they would run straight through to Doe. The road rarely bent, rose or fell. Smoothness, however, was another matter. Aside from the times they slowed for oncoming travelers, their horses ran at a controlled gallop. Every divot or bump the wagon wheels struck caused the back to bounce higher than the front, always ending with a groan from Niall when he and Siobhan landed.


    Finn called out from over his shoulder.


    ¡°The horses might handle this run, but are we sure Niall can?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to find out what happens if we slow down,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Just let me know where to turn,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve only been here one time.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this your granddad¡¯s place?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s still a new place, isn¡¯t it? Siobhan said.


    She glared at Maeve and returned to sopping the sweat from Niall¡¯s brow. Donal caught her grimacing¡ªan expression he¡¯d rarely seen on her face. His mind searched for a reason behind her defensiveness and anxiety. Instead he got a bump to the shoulder from Maeve. He had eased Airgid too far to the right and was crowding her horse.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose focus,¡± she said. ¡°You can¡¯t rely solely on the horse to navigate a road.¡±


    The group hurtled down the deserted road for another three quarters of a mile before the path curved to the left.


    ¡°Slow down, Finn!¡± Siobhan said. ¡°The road dead-ends into another on the other side of this bend. You¡¯ll want to turn right. We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    ¡°Then why can¡¯t we see it from here?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see it soon enough,¡± she said. ¡°Just focus on keeping that horse on the road.¡±


    The thickets and trees along the right side of the road relented as they neared the crossing. Donal had to strain his eyes to distinguish a bay head from the valley floor to his south. Rolling hills pushed against the horizon on the other side.


    Finn, too, must have lingered too long on the view. He yelped as he jerked on the reins. The wheels on the wagon¡¯s right side lost contact with the road long enough to create a thud when it returned to the ground. Niall groaned after that impact, too.


    ¡°Just do us a kindness and stop that thing before it runs through the front gate,¡± Maeve said.


    Finn threw up an apologetic hand.


    ¡°We¡¯re here, by the way,¡± he said.


    Donal craned his head to see over the wagon. A tower house rose fifty feet above the ground, looming over the bawn wall and two shorter structures that surrounded it. Two armed men clad in green flanked the narrow gatehouse door.


    The wind from Sheephaven Bay buffeted them as they entered a clearing in front of the castle. The guard on the left stepped inside the gatehouse while the other stepped forward and waited for the oncoming group with a raised hand. Siobhan climbed to her feet as the wagon rolled to a stop.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± the guard asked.


    ¡°Please let us inside,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I¡¯m the king¡¯s granddaughter and my friend is gravely hurt.¡±


    The guard¡¯s eyes narrowed under his bushy black brows. He circled around the back of the wagon, glancing twice at Maeve.


    ¡°I don¡¯t recognize you,¡± he said, turning back to Siobhan. ¡°Are you one of Diarmait and Orlaith¡¯s children?¡±


    ¡°Treasach¡¯s, actually,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m his youngest, Siobhan.¡±


    ¡°My apologies.¡±


    The guard gave Niall a cursory examination.


    ¡°He certainly looks banjaxed.¡±


    ¡°We were attacked last night in our camp,¡± she said.


    A voice called out from behind her.


    ¡°You were?¡±


    The other guard had returned from the gatehouse with a tall, slender man with an expression of concern on his face.


    ¡°Uncle Faelan!¡± she said.


    Siobhan climbed down to hug Faelan. Donal thought the man could pass as Siobhan¡¯s older brother. His red hair was luminescent in spite of the drab linen sky, his smile as easy as his niece¡¯s. The knobby middle of his long nose lined up with his exaggerated cheekbones. The question in Donal¡¯s mind slipped out of his mouth.


    ¡°How tall are you?¡±


    Faelan twisted his neck in surprise.


    ¡°Six feet and a half more,¡± Siobhan said, patting the sides of her uncle¡¯s arms after the embrace.


    ¡°Siobhan,¡± Maeve said.


    Maeve canted her head towards Niall.


    ¡°Family reunions need to wait.¡±


    ¡°You say you were attacked?¡± Faelan asked.


    Siobhan recounted the ambush, turning to Finn to fill in any details that happened away from camp. Faelan didn¡¯t interrupt or react, just a slight nod after Siobhan had finished.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite the story,¡± Faelan said. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to believe, honestly.¡±


    Maeve sighed and hopped down from Sc¨¢th, startling the guards in the process. Faelan steadied them with a wave of his hand as Maeve approached her friend lying in the wagon. She removed part of the blanket, exposing the unnatural lacerations on Niall¡¯s arm.


    ¡°We have four reasons why you should believe us,¡± Maeve said.


    Faelan nodded. He rested a hand on the shoulder of the nearest guard and pointed to the brothers with the other hand.


    ¡°Go fetch Nectan and have him show our friends¡­¡±


    ¡°Finn and Donal, sir,¡± Finn said. ¡°MacLaughlin.¡±


    ¡°¡ªFinn and Donal around. Take them to the guest quarters. They will wait there for now.¡±


    Faelan gestured to the other guard.


    ¡°Help me get this one to C¨ªan. Ladies, you¡¯re with me.¡±


    Faelan and the guard each took one of Niall¡¯s arms and put it behind their heads and carried him into the gatehouse, followed closely by Siobhan and Maeve.


    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°We wait,¡± Finn said. ¡°Better yet, we make ourselves useful. Let¡¯s tie up the horses.¡±


    They had just finished tying G¨¢la to the wooden railing left of the gatehouse when the first guard returned with someone new.


    ¡°Are you Nectan?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I am,¡± he said. ¡°Dia daoibh.¡±


    Nectan was the first person Donal had met this week younger than himself. He had brown wavy hair and his face lacked the severity of Faelan¡¯s. The boy nodded at the guard and walked back into the castle, beckoning the brothers to follow.


    ¡°Are you Faelan¡¯s boy?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°I am not. My father is Padraig, the second oldest,¡± Nectan said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry about the details yet. There¡¯s too many of us; your head will be drowning in MacSweeneys by sunset.¡±


    The trio passed under a pointed arch much wider than the entry. A round two-story tower crowded the entryway. Nectan led them down a stairway between the front wall and the tower. Both of Donal¡¯s elbows rubbed against the walls. They followed the tower wall around and passed an open hallway to the right.


    ¡°Your friend was taken this way to our healer, C¨ªan,¡± Nectan said. You can check on him once you¡¯re settled in. Frankly, I¡¯m surprised that the ladies fit inside his room at the same time.¡±


    Four more paces put them in an alcove with two doors. Nectan opened the door on the right and ushered them through. Two beds ran perpendicular to the long wall with a ladder anchored between them. Donal twisted his body for a glimpse into the loft and saw a bed nicer than any in his own house.


    ¡°Siobhan will sleep in the tower house,¡± Nectan said. ¡°I trust this room will suffice for the rest of you.¡±


    ¡°I suppose we can make do with this,¡± Finn said.


    Nectan¡¯s eyes widened. He hopped up the ladder into the loft and began to remake the beds.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe we can get some¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªI¡¯m coddin¡¯ ya,¡± Finn said. ¡°Come on down. This is grand. It¡¯ll be great not having to watch for hungry apparitions or bloodthirsty creatures while we sleep.¡±


    Nectan stopped halfway down the ladder and stared blankly at Finn.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for you to tell me that was a joke as well,¡± Nectan said.


    ¡°If only it were,¡± Donal said. ¡°Dya¡¯think we can see our friend now?¡±


    ¡°I will go check,¡± Nectan said. ¡°I believe the king wants me to bring Siobhan up for a chat. You might have a wait ahead you in the meantime.¡±

 20) Meeting the Ruiri / MacSweeneys feast

    Siobhan slapped Donal and Finn on the back.


    ¡°Come with me, lads.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°To meet my grandparents,¡± she said. ¡°Or in your case, the Ruiri and Lady MacSweeney. Best to not forget that part.¡±


    She dropped her voice to a mutter as she turned from Donal and Finn.


    ¡°They surely don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Is Ruiri the correct name for him, though?¡± Finn asked. ¡°He¡¯s not even the head of Tyrconnell.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s better to be polite than accurate,¡± she said. ¡°Especially when we¡¯re the ones imposing.¡±


    They stepped through the other door in the alcove into a hallway between the tower house and the great hall. Siobhan opened the door to the tower house and climbed the stairway to the right.


    Donal struggled to keep his jaw closed as they entered the first floor. Wood panels lined three of the walls, a lit fireplace filled most of the fourth. Two intricately carved wooden chairs stood with their backs to the fireplace. A long table bisected the room. Above it two iron circles hung from the ceiling, each holding ten lit candles.


    The man seated in the chair on the right spoke before they reached him.


    ¡°It¡¯s been more than a year since you last visited, granddaughter. How much longer would you have waited had your friend not been so badly injured?¡±


    Wrinkles radiated from the man¡¯s eyes and wry smile. Donal suspected they owed more to the sun than advanced age. His long, chalky hair and beard draped over his shoulders and chest but did not appear unkempt. A scar traveled from his piercing green eyes up the left side of his forehead to a band of silver filigree adorned with several gemstones.


    The king silently scanned the three road-weary people in front of him from head to toe. Donal¡¯s eyes darted around the empty room as he squirmed in discomfort.


    ¡°Dya¡¯think they just sit here in an empty room all day?¡± Donal whispered to Finn.


    Finn replied with an elbow to Donal¡¯s ribs, forcing a grunt.


    ¡°Whisht!¡± Siobhan whispered.


    ¡°Who are these friends of yours, Siobhan?¡± the lady asked.


    ¡°Finn and Donal MacLaughlin,¡± Siobhan said.


    She raised her eyebrows and bobbed her head toward her grandmother for emphasis.


    ¡°They¡¯re Fintan¡¯s boys.¡±


    The lady wrinkled her nose and looked at the ground to her right. She inhaled sharply, her clenched expression relenting, and rolled her head backwards in a slight arc. Donal couldn¡¯t help but notice how lovely she looked for a lady of her age. He looked back at Siobhan and noticed the resemblance.


    ¡°Fintan McLaughlin,¡± she said. ¡°I knew his people well. The longer I look upon you, Finn, the more I see your great-granddad. How is your father?¡±


    Both brothers cast their eyes downward. Donal scuffed the floor with his shoe.


    ¡°They¡¯re gone, Almaith,¡± the king said. ¡°Several years, now. You knew this.¡±


    She covered her mouth and her eyes developed a shimmer.


    ¡°So I did. Forgive me, boys.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to forgive, m¡¯lady.¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Why are you two here, though?¡± the king asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re S¨ªlrad Cummasc, Ruiri,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Descended from Lugh Lamfhada himself.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll forgive me, boys, if I find that hard to believe,¡± the king said.


    Siobhan explained to the royal couple how Finn was abducted by the dullahan and how she and Donal rescued him. The king pointed at Donal.


    ¡°This one?¡± he said. ¡°This boy took down a dullahan from two hundred feet?¡±


    ¡°Five hundred feet, Ruiri,¡± Donal said. ¡°And I only wounded it. We didn¡¯t stay to fight it.¡±


    ¡°Faelan said you defeated an ¨¢vertach? Which one of you did that?¡±


    ¡°It was a combination,¡± Finn said. ¡°Maeve wounded it with her arrows, and Donal here pinned it with a spear.¡±


    Donal pointed to Finn.


    ¡°He knew how to keep it buried. That thing might be chasing us still if not for my brother.¡±


    Donal watched the blood run to his brother¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°Is it your plan to hide here now?¡± said the king. ¡°Exactly how long do you plan on staying?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not hiding, Ruiri,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We just need to get Niall healed. He¡¯s leading us on a mission, of sorts, and we need him in full health. Then we¡¯ll go. If you have room to spare, that is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the room I¡¯m worried about,¡± the king said. ¡°That¡¯s five more mouths to feed for several days. The blight has affected us as well. Our food supply is not infinite.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come now, Aengus,¡± Lady MacSweeney said. ¡°They¡¯re not staying here long. We can feed them for a few days. In fact, it¡¯s been nine months since any of Treasach¡¯s children visited us. Let¡¯s bring Lorcan¡¯s and Faelan¡¯s family over tonight and have a nice dinner.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± the king said. ¡°Siobhan, go tell Faelan to send for Lorcan¡¯s family. They can make it here by sunset.¡±


    ¡°I will, Ruiri.¡± she said.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    He leaned forward and gestured to Donal and Finn.


    ¡°As for the two of you,¡± he said. ¡°Anyone strong enough to take on both a dullahan and ¨¢vertach and live to tell of it is more than strong enough to help our servants set up the great hall for a feast. I¡¯ll thank you for the help.¡±


    ****


    ¡°It was good of you to come, Lorcan,¡± said the king.


    Siobhan¡¯s eldest uncle claimed the empty chair between her and her grandfather.


    ¡°It certainly was unexpected, father,¡± said Lorcan. ¡°But I trust the work I was forced to put off will hold for another day.¡±


    He turned up the palm nearest Siobhan and dipped his shoulder.


    ¡°Even if it isn¡¯t as important as whatever my wayward niece is doing.¡±


    Siobhan would have preferred to sit on the other side of the head table next to Faelan. Or at any other table. Lorcan, had a habit of looking in every direction other than at the person to which he was speaking. Even Finn and Donal made more eye contact than Lorcan. In their cases, however, it came from a place of insecurity and not condescension.


    Lorcan was a striking man in nearly every aspect. His raven hair was pulled behind his ears, not a single strand out of place. He had his father¡¯s eyes, his mother¡¯s soft cheeks, and his beard flowed downward as if it were sculpted. Whatever work he had abandoned for the feast had not scuffed his leather ionar or stained his green leine. Faelan had not said so, but Siobhan suspected that he took the time to change clothes.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you asked for our help,¡± Lorcan said. ¡°I would have figured the druidic magic of your mother¡¯s people would have saved him.¡±


    ¡°Brother, is that necessary?¡± Faelan asked.


    ¡°Just making conversation,¡± Lorcan said. ¡°I assumed she forsook the power of Tuireann in favor of druidic ways for a reason.¡±


    ¡°I did no such thing, uncle,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I can call upon the thunder when I need to, but I will not apologize for being a skilled druid. Much like my mother was before me.¡±


    Lorcan winced at the remark but tried to cover it with a gesture.


    ¡°Perhaps if you leaned on your s¨ªlrad ancestry more you¡¯d have greater success,¡± he said.


    ¡°You must be speaking in regards to magic, because we all know you forbade me from leaning on your children to help investigate and fight this blight.¡±


    ¡°I simply don¡¯t see the need at this point,¡± Lorcan said. ¡°There¡¯s no need for them to traipse around Tyrconnell on what is likely a fool¡¯s errand. Are we even positive there is a widespread blight? Indeed, it¡¯s not a banner year for my lands, but we still have plenty to eat.¡±


    ¡°Lorcan¡¯s family is providing the food for this feast,¡± the king said.


    ¡°Indeed, Ruiri, we are,¡± Lorcan said. ¡°How do we know this blight talk isn¡¯t a group of lousy farmers in a fit of hysteria over a down year?¡±


    Siobhan stared at Lorcan, then leaned forward to look down the table. Faelan shook his head and threw his hands up.


    ¡°Tell me, uncle, how often do you leave Tyrconnell¡ªor even your own lands?¡±


    Lorcan stretched his shoulders and looked directly at Siobhan.


    ¡°Speaking of my lands, would it kill you to address me as ¡®Tiarna¡¯ or ¡®Lord¡¯ at least once?¡±


    ¡°It might,¡± she said.


    ¡°Siobhan, you may not like his title and I¡¯d say you don¡¯t have to use it,¡± Lady MacSweeney said, ¡°But I¡¯d ask you to show him the respect of a family elder.¡±


    ¡°For you, Grandma,¡± Siobhan said with a nod.


    Lorcan inhaled and closed his eyes as he exhaled.


    ¡°To answer your accusation: yes, I have ventured outside Tyrconnell. Personally, I don¡¯t see what the fuss is about. We¡¯ve had droughts. We¡¯ve had blights. We¡¯ve had floods. They¡¯re all temporary, cyclical. Why are you treating this year as if it were different?¡±


    ¡°Because this year has been particularly bad,¡± she said. ¡°Yet it¡¯s only affecting the crops; all other foliage is thriving. It¡¯s been accompanied by supernatural creatures that haven¡¯t walked the land in centuries. Not to mention a certain Fomori agitator roaming the lands and stirring up trouble between the Normans and Gaels¡ªas if trouble needed any help. Look at the larger picture, uncle, and tell me this doesn¡¯t warrant a second look.¡±


    Lorcan stared at his plate for half of a minute.


    ¡°This Fomori¡ªI assume you¡¯re referring to ¨¦amon Breaslin?¡±


    ¡°I am. Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve met,¡± Lorcan said. ¡°Fomori or not, he seems like a simple opportunist. Nothing remarkable about him.¡±


    Siobhan leaned toward her uncle.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said. ¡°If you don¡¯t see a problem with the current situation, then you won¡¯t see the danger of it exploited by a ¡®simple opportunist.¡¯¡±


    Siobhan looked out from the head table. Lorcan¡¯s wife, Concessa, sat with her three youngest children at a table to her right. On her left sat a collection of her cousins from Padraig¡¯s and Orlaith¡¯s families, all of whom were spending the growing season with either the king or Lorcan.


    Faelan¡¯s wife, Saerlaith, fed her young children next to Finn and Donal at a table in the far back of the hall. Donal played with Saerlaith¡¯s oldest boy. Siobhan scanned the hall for Maeve but found no trace of her. The ranger likely used her elder¡¯s state as an excuse to miss the dinner. Siobhan found herself jealous of her friend.


    Finn smiled at her as they caught each other¡¯s gaze, and at that moment Siobhan wanted nothing more than a seat at the back table.


    ****


    ¡°Siobhan looks miserable,¡± Finn said to Donal. ¡°I wish there was something we could do.¡±


    ¡°Is it the dress she¡¯s wearing?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Looks scratchy. Dya¡¯think they had it stuffed in one of her bags the whole time?¡±


    ¡°Is it really a dress, or just a fancy new leine?¡± Finn asked.


    In truth, Finn considered the question rhetorical. She was draped in a shiny emerald green fabric trimmed at the sleeves and neck with a beige pattern of two intertwined lines. Capped by her red copper hair, she was a radiant sight.


    ¡°Likely left behind by one of her older cousins,¡± said Saerlaith. ¡°As for her comfort, unless you know any spells that can seal up Lorcan¡¯s mouth, there¡¯s no helping her.¡±


    Saerlaith continued to spoon porridge for Muirenn, the toddler sitting on her lap. Her own blue dress flowed about her, under coal-black hair pulled back in a perfect braid. Her steel blue eyes were the only bits of color on an otherwise pallid face.


    Darkened circles ringed her eyes and faint wrinkles bordered her mouth. Finn suspected that the features¡ªalso shared by her husband at the head table¡ªwere the telltale signs of parents rearing small children. The only blemishes on an otherwise handsome couple.


    Aengus and Donal traded faces until one of them would giggle.


    ¡°He¡¯s good with kids,¡± Saerlaith said to Finn. ¡°You must have a lot of younger siblings and cousins.¡±


    ¡°None, actually,¡± said Finn. ¡°I think that he simply shares a brain with the little ones.¡±


    ¡°Oi!¡± Donal said. ¡°Who taught me everything I know?¡±


    Finn held up his hands.


    ¡°All right, not in front of the babes, now.¡±


    He watched Siobhan at the head table as she gestured and pointed, sometimes at her uncle.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her get that mad at someone who wasn¡¯t us,¡± said Finn. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with yer man over there?¡±


    ¡°Lorcan?¡± Saerlaith asked. ¡°He¡¯s nothing but notions from head to toe. He needs everyone to know it, too¡ªespecially Treasach¡¯s children.¡±


    ¡°Siobhan''s da?" Finn asked. "Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°He never got over the ¡®insult¡¯ of Siobhan¡¯s mom refusing his advances.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lorcan and Dair¨ªne O¡¯Donnell, Siobhan¡¯s mom, were to be married. Her parents wanted it, Lorcan¡¯s parents wanted it. It was no secret the Normans¡¯ grip on Tyrconnell and the rest of Ulster has slipped over the last few generations. The Ruiri and Dair¨ªne¡¯s dad envisioned a fierce political union between the two biggest families in Tyrconnell¡ªeven though the two clans have had plenty of marriages between them in the past. Lorcan wanted it too. The only one who didn¡¯t want it was Dair¨ªne, and she would not be swayed.¡±


    ¡°Because of Treasach?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Indeed. She was in love with him.¡±


    ¡°And Lorcan was jealous?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the worst part¡ªhe wasn¡¯t,¡± Saerlaith said. ¡°He didn¡¯t love Dair¨ªne, not really. He hated being embarrassed by his little brother and never forgave him. He didn¡¯t even go to Treasach¡¯s funeral. His own brother! If that wasn¡¯t enough, he poisoned his parents against Treasach and Dair¨ªne.¡±


    ¡°Is that why Siobhan¡¯s dad was such a hard case?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Could you blame him?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Knowing what we know now?¡±


    ¡°His parents didn¡¯t disown Treasach outright, but they did him no favors,¡± said Saerlaith.


    ¡°Why does Siobhan and her brothers have anything to do with her grandparents?¡± Finn asked.


    That¡¯s mostly because of Dair¨ªne and Concessa, Lorcan¡¯s wife. Concessa is an O¡¯Donnell as well. They both worked hard to ensure that whatever ill will Lorcan¡ªand by extension the king¡ªhad against the parents, their kids would not suffer from it. Dair¨ªne endured a lot of disrespect on behalf of her kids over the years.¡±


    Finn looked over at the head table. He felt his face warm as Lorcan held up a hand to block whatever Siobhan was telling him. Finn then thought about Mrs. MacSweeney and took deep breaths until his skin cooled.

 21) The patient / Contrasts in magic

    Donal ducked into the surgeon¡¯s room and found Maeve sitting at the foot of the only bed, her back to the door.


    ¡°Are you ever going to leave this room and give the rest of us a chance to hide in here?¡± he asked her.


    ¡°I wish she would,¡± said Niall.


    He raised his left arm into view to point at Maeve.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried she¡¯d start keening over me before I¡¯m actually dead. Have you heard this one sing?¡±


    Donal circled to the head of the bed.


    ¡°Oul¡¯ fella!,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡±


    ¡°It would appear so,¡± Niall said. ¡°I heard your aim is getting better.¡±


    ¡°Well, Maeve made a pincushion out of him. I merely drove in the final one.¡±


    Niall chuckled.


    ¡°Is that all? Help me up, lad.¡±


    Donal reached out a hand and pulled Niall upright by his healthy arm. He grunted like most men his age would when they sat down at a tavern table.


    ¡°Does this mean you¡¯re ready to go?¡± Donal asked. ¡°I bet we could be on the road by lunch if Finn and I start packing now.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, boyo,¡± Niall said. ¡°Their man C¨ªan is sound, but I¡¯ll likely need another day and night before I can go, and even then I¡¯ll be riding in the back of that wagon while I regain the rest of my strength.¡±


    ¡°Did he mention to you any long-term concerns while I was out?¡± Niall asked Maeve.


    ¡°Aside from the worry that you wouldn¡¯t give it enough time to fully heal?" she asked. "No other concerns.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s plan on leaving tomorrow morning, then,¡± he said. ¡°In the meantime Siobhan will work with Finn on his fil¨ª magic. Maeve, we may need to find a MacSweeney versed in battle magic willing to train Donal. You¡¯ll want to review the state of our weapons and armor before we leave.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m still not ready by tomorrow morning, so be it. We¡¯ll wait another day and hope we¡¯re not too late to stop whatever plan Breaslin is working on. Any questions?¡±


    ¡°Just a request for Maeve,¡± Donal said. ¡°Please don¡¯t ask that Lorcan fella to train me.¡±


    ****


    Finn stopped in his tracks and raised both hands to shield his eyes. The morning sun lingered far enough into the northern sky that its reflection off Sheephaven Bay doubled the light that shone on the castle¡¯s rear wall. His eyes now acclimated, he moved the rest of his body through the exit onto the triangular section of land that poked out into the water.


    The other side of the bay lay three hundred yards from where he stood. Unlike the Ballyness back home, this was all seawater and no shoal. There was no stagnant smell of shallow water, only salt air that filled his lungs and invigorated him.


    ¡°I can¡¯t help but notice that there¡¯s no stone circle here,¡± he said. ¡°Are you sure I¡¯ll be able to use magic here?¡±


    Siobhan stepped through the entrance behind Finn and took in the view.


    ¡°You no longer wear a bib when you eat, yet you keep the food off your shirt,¡± she said.


    She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.


    ¡°Most of the time, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Here I was afraid that I¡¯d endure only one form of abuse,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan laughed.


    ¡°Coddin¡¯ aside, we can¡¯t assume everything we face can be pushed aside by a breeze,¡± she said. ¡°I know of a few druid spells that are shared by the fil¨ª. Hand me your sword.¡±


    Finn unsheathed Fragarach and attempted to spin the grip within his hand to present it to Siobhan. It slipped out of his hand and fell to the ground.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Pure class,¡± she said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Oi,¡± Finn said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting swordplay this morning.¡±


    Siobhan rested her hand on his upper arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said. ¡°But the truth is, you weren¡¯t given this sword to clean wild game. Most of the magic a fil¨ª uses doesn¡¯t attack an enemy; it protects and strengthens. Watch.¡±


    She picked up the sword and closed her eyes. She pulled her hand back and flicked it in the direction of the blade.


    ¡°O¨ªbell f¨¢ebar.¡±


    A flame appeared at the base of the blade and raced to the tip as if the sword was made of dry branches. Siobhan practiced a few forms and then held the blade still as she pushed her free hand downward.


    ¡°Sos s¨ªabraid.¡±


    The flames faded from the blade. She reached behind her back with her free hand, pulled a glove out of her belt and threw it to him.


    ¡°You¡¯ll want to put this on before you take the sword back.¡±


    ¡°Because the flames heated the handle?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°The flame blade spell wouldn¡¯t be useful if it made the weapon too hot to handle,¡± she said. ¡°Here.¡±


    She put the hilt of the sword in Finn¡¯s gloved hand, stepped back and flicked her hand at the sword once more.


    ¡°Guirid miotail.¡±


    The entire sword radiated an orange color and within two seconds it warmed beyond the point of his glove¡¯s protection. He threw the sword on the ground and watched it cool.


    ¡°I¡¯m meant to do this?¡±


    ¡°The incantations and effects are the same for both druid and fil¨ª,¡± she said. ¡°The only difference is the plane from where we draw our magic. Druids are naturally attuned to the Silver Plane, Mag Argetnel. Bards and Fil¨ª are drawn to the Multi-Colored Plane, Mag Ildathach. Give it a try.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the incantation?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± she said. ¡°Say it in the older tongue. You learned it during all your studies, yeah? Clear the excess noise out of your mind and your heart and speak true.¡±


    Finn nodded and looked at the sword.


    ¡°O¨ªbell f¨¢ebar.¡±


    Fire erupted from Fragarach¡¯s blade, albeit a weaker flame than the one Siobhan produced. Finn waved the blade slowly back and forth, marveling at his work.


    ¡°How do I make it go away?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You can simply wait for it to disappear on its own, you can intentionally stop the enchantment.¡±


    ¡°How do I¡ªoh, right. Sos s¨ªabraid.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s grand, MacLaughlin,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Let¡¯s move on. What spells have you come across in that bard book of yours?¡±


    ¡°As you said earlier, I saw no spells that would be handy in a battle,¡± he said. ¡°One makes a magic shield, one turns me invisible, one makes my enemies go silent, another makes my friends grow strong.¡±


    ¡°G¡¯way with that,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s not what I said at all! I¡¯d rather have someone beside me making those things happen than someone doing that against me. It¡¯s clear we have to train you up in some sword fighting, but you¡¯ll come around.¡±


    Finn studied Siobhan¡¯s face. Her words were that of a mother placating a frustrated child. Her face, however, showed something different. She was either a far better liar than Finn thought or she believed what she was saying.


    ¡°Here¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand, though,¡± he said. ¡°Lugh was a master of many talents, but he¡¯s known primarily for his fighting and his strategy. Donal¡¯s clearly got the fighter in him, even if it is early days. Why am I a bard?¡±


    ¡°Besides the natural aptitude for storytelling, history, and other scholarly pursuits, you mean?¡± she said. ¡°You know the tales. Lugh was also a master of music, poetry and storytelling, too. As you get more comfortable with casting spells, someday you might tap into planes to which you¡¯re not naturally attuned.¡±


    ¡°Have you tapped into other planes?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t had a need to.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how to do it?¡±


    Siobhan narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°Some of it¡¯s obvious. First, you¡¯d have to know the spell effect you want, and the incantation to make it happen. You¡¯d have to know which of the planes are more likely to produce that effect.¡±


    ¡°The attunement is the hard part. You¡¯d probably need to be in a circle or a tomb. The way it¡¯s been told to me is that you have to empty yourself and then try to search for the plane. And you¡¯d have to have a master there to help in case you cause an imbalance.¡±


    ¡°That sounds both easier and harder than I thought,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan laughed.


    ¡°I suppose it does.¡±


    She put her right hand on his left shoulder and moved directly into his eyeline.


    ¡°Finn, this isn¡¯t the farm. Most things will be out of your control. You have to trust yourself and those around you. Then the hardest bit comes: you have to let things happen in their own time. You¡¯ll drive yourself mad if you try to force everything.¡±


    He patted her hand with his right hand and nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Of course you¡¯re right.¡±


    He held his right hand on hers and took in the smile she beamed back at him. He¡¯d never seen this expression on her¡ªor had he? Had he been too wrapped up in his brother, the farm and his own head to notice anything else?


    ¡°I have to just let it all happen?¡± he said.


    Her eyes drifted towards his chin and back up.


    ¡°Well, you can give some things a little push now and then,¡± she said.


    He shifted his weight forward. She leaned to her left¡ªand then leaned some more. She wrinkled the middle of her brow as she looked over his shoulder toward the castle.


    ¡°Gavin,¡± she said.


    Finn broke contact with Siobhan and stepped backward. His cheeks ran hot. He placed a hand on his head to stop it from spinning.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I thought that you wanted¡ªI didn¡¯t know about you and Gavin. I¡¯m an absolute tool.¡±


    He watched waves of surprise, confusion and amusement crash against Siobhan¡¯s face within the span of five seconds.


    ¡°Gavin and I? Why would you think¡ªoh,¡± she said. ¡°We have absolutely no intentions towards each other. I just saw him through the doorway.¡±


    She stepped toward him and grabbed his elbows.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go see if he brought us anything,¡± she said.


    She pecked Finn on the cheek and headed into the castle without another word or look back.


    Finn touched his cheek as he watched her dip out of his line of sight.

 22) Blacksmith makes a house call

    ¡°Sure look, Maeve,¡± Donal said. ¡°If we knew this is all it took to get you out of hiding, we¡¯d have sent for Gavin sooner.¡±


    He entered the back bawn from the castle¡¯s main corridor. Maeve was leaning against the rear wall of the great hall smiling at Gavin. He unhooked a large leather wrapping and pulled out two separate items. One was four feet in length and wrapped in linen, the other a pole wrapped in linen and capped in leather.


    ¡°Howya, Gavin?¡±


    ¡°You tell me, big fella,¡± Gavin said. ¡°I¡¯ve got something for you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Let me get Maeve squared away first,¡± he said.


    ¡°That one is for me!¡± Maeve said. ¡°I knew it. Spill it, O¡¯Roarke. What did you bring me?¡±


    He unfurled the linen wrapping and handed Maeve a new bow. Donal was never one for archery but he found himself jealous of the four feet of craftsmanship she held in her hands.


    ¡°You¡¯ve outdone yourself, Gav,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Look at this gorgeous recurve! Not a chance you did this in the short time since we left.¡±


    ¡°It did take some time to curve the limbs. It was still unfinished when you visited last. It¡¯s mostly yew. I didn¡¯t laminate it much. I burnt these markings on the limbs rather than etched them. Silver tips, bowstring with a three-strand braid in between. You¡¯ll probably want to break in the leather wrapping on the grip.¡±


    ¡°What are these markings?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°A little Goibniu magic,¡± Gavin said. ¡°It lowers the amount of force required to bring the bow to full draw. Oh! I almost forgot.¡±


    He reached down into the linen and pulled a leather armguard and a bow holster.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to need a bigger armguard for this one, especially while you get used to it,¡± Gavin said. ¡°And careful with that holster; I needed a place to stash the silver broadheads in transport.¡±


    ¡°Just when I was about to call you a genius, you wasted good silver on broadheads!¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°You won¡¯t think it¡¯s a waste when you¡¯re aiming down one of those beasties,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not saying use them for target practice. Swap these onto a dozen or so arrows if you know a nasty fight is coming.¡±


    ¡°This is all unreal,¡± Maeve said.


    Each shift of her body weight, every step she took, every movement of her limbs had a bounce to it. Her mouth was ajar with a smile wider than the one she showed Donal at camp the other night. Donal suspected this was the closest anyone will come to seeing Maeve O¡¯Connor giddy and only he and Gavin would witness it. He doubted Finn and Siobhan would believe the tale.


    ¡°I owe you¡­ I don¡¯t know how much I owe you for this,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll work something out,¡± Gavin said.


    He extended his arms just in time to catch her as she lunged for a hug.


    ¡°Watch those bow tips; I don¡¯t want to get stabbed with my own work.¡±


    That¡¯s enough, Donal thought.


    He was making peace with the state of things after their talk at the campfire. Still, he wasn¡¯t eager for such a reminder two feet in front of his face.


    ¡°Is this a new spear?¡± Donal asked, bending over to pick it up.


    ¡°Allow me,¡± Gavin said.


    He walked over and unspun the spear from its linen cover. He removed the leather cap with great care, revealing a spearhead longer and much wider than the one Donal carried. Gavin tilted the spear to display the point to its new owner but pulled it away when Donal reached for it.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Gavin said. ¡°This makes the yoke you¡¯ve been carrying look like a worn club. Understand what this is before you wield it.¡±


    Donal looked once more at the spearhead. It was forked with an inch and a half gap between the prongs. One side was two inches longer than the other. The gap was bordered by subtle flanges from where the prongs tapered toward the sides and tips.


    ¡°Is that pure silver?¡± Siobhan asked.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Donal was so mesmerized with Gavin¡¯s work he hadn¡¯t noticed Siobhan re-enter the bawn from the rear. Gavin smiled and dropped his chin in a single nod.


    ¡°I know that we were delayed in getting here,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°but it wasn¡¯t long enough for you to make it here by way of Murrough¡¯s hut in the Crossroads.¡±


    ¡°Right, as usual,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯d been waiting weeks for my man to deliver the specific kind of silver I needed, and it finally arrived the afternoon after you visited. I worked deep into the night and most of the next day.¡±


    ¡°When I popped into town late in the day, the locals were buzzing about strange things walking the roads south of Portnablagh. The old ones said that it sounded like the fear gorta. Murrough knew what I was building and would want me to run this down to you lot.¡±


    ¡°Murrough knew you were making these things?¡± Donal asked.


    Gavin pointed to the base of the spearhead.


    ¡°He gave me this to put in it.¡± Gavin said.


    Donal couldn¡¯t believe he missed the thumb-sized gem mounted just below the meeting of the prongs. It was cut in the shape of a shield and redder than blood.


    ¡°It¡¯s red onyx, and it¡¯s the namesake of the Red Javelin, one of the weapons used by Manann¨¢n. Murrough doesn¡¯t know what happened to the javelin, but the stone has been passed down through his family for generations. He wanted you, specifically, to have it.¡±


    ¡°Not sure why he didn¡¯t give the stone to me outright,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°He knew you¡¯d lose it,¡± Finn said.


    Donal scowled at Finn, but realized his brother¡¯s grin was too impish for hurtful intent. He shifted his body so he had a clear view of the castle¡¯s rear¡ªand any further ambushes.


    ¡°Honestly, I probably jumped the queue on that,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Hope I didn¡¯t ruin a family moment between you two.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sound,¡± Donal said. ¡°As you said, he¡¯d understand.¡±


    Finn reached a hand between Donal and Siobhan and pointed at the very bottom of the spearhead. Five words were hammered from the wing to the end of the spearhead¡¯s extended socket:


    <blockquote>


    Do gr¨¦s l¨¢mh s¨ªlrad Lug


    </blockquote>


    ¡°Always the arm of a descendant of Lugh,¡± Finn said.


    Gavin smiled and pointed at Finn.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Siobhan,¡± Gavin said. ¡°This one doesn¡¯t miss a thing.¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s cheeks did their best imitation of the gem on Donal¡¯s spear. Behind her, Finn¡¯s face turned its own brand of pink, fronted by a half-raised grin. Donal checked with the rest of the group to see if they understood the sudden silence.


    Maeve looked from Siobhan to Finn. She widened her eyes and flashed a wicked grin at her friend. Siobhan wrinkled her face back at Maeve but relented into a sheepish smile. Maeve gave a nod as her grin lost its edge. Donal shrugged to himself and turned his attention back to his new weapon.


    ¡°But what does it mean, exactly?¡± Finn said.


    ¡°It¡¯s a minor enchantment that might prove handy in a fight,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Another bit of¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªGoibniu magic,¡± Donal said. ¡°I figured.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t thrilled with his smith¡¯s coyness.


    ¡°Before I forget, you¡¯re going to need a couple of things,¡± Gavin said.


    Gavin reached down into the linen and pulled out a large belt attached to a spaulder. He placed the spaulder on Donal''s left shoulder and fed the belt under his right arm. He reached behind and pulled forward a narrower strap from under Donal''s left arm and fastened it to the belt.


    ¡°How¡¯s it fit?¡± Gavin asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± Donal said, shaking his shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s that jangling I hear?¡±


    ¡°The best part. I put rings on the back wide enough for the oak handle to slip through. That way you don¡¯t have to carry it in your hands whenever you¡¯re on foot.¡±


    Donal grinned. The fleeting moment when he was jealous of Maeve¡¯s bow was ancient history. He raised his left arm and examined the two lames layered under the spaulder. He took the spear and raised it up over his head and tried feeding it through the rings on his back. After the first two attempts he hooked one of the rings and the spear jammed against the other ring.


    He started to twist and lean forward before he realized what he was doing. Luckily for him Finn and Siobhan were paying attention and jumped out of the way before they became the spear¡¯s first victims. Maeve stepped in and forced the spear up, freeing it from the ring that trapped it.


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s something to try on your own?¡± she said.


    ¡°Gavin, please don¡¯t take this as me being ungrateful,¡± Donal said, ¡°but why are there two rings back there?¡±


    ¡°The second ring keeps in place,¡± Gavin said. ¡°You don¡¯t want that swaying back and forth like a weather vane.¡±


    Donal nodded.


    ¡°Oi, Gavin,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°You took the main road down through Creeslough, right?¡±


    ¡°I was bringing a lot of equipment, so I walked C¨¢emaid as much as possible. I rode her through the fear gortas, though.¡±


    ¡°Did you see any shapers walking around in purple cloaks?¡±


    ¡°Come to think of it, I did,¡± Gavin said. ¡°North of Cashelmore. I could tell from a long way out that they were a bit off, so I mounted and put her in a gallop until they were out of sight.¡±


    ¡°They give you no trouble?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Look at what I was carrying.¡± Gavin said with a laugh. ¡°I brought my own gear as well, unwrapped and ready to go. They glared at me, but they knew I wasn¡¯t an easy target.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°My answer hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    ¡°Even with Niall on the mend, we could really use your help.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you could, but my answer is unchanged.¡±


    Siobhan firmed up her tone.


    ¡°Maeve and I always have respected your wishes and have never questioned your reasons,¡± she said. ¡°But you¡¯ve seen some of what¡¯s happening with your own eyes.¡±


    Gavin threw up a hand and turned to collect his empty wrappings.


    Maeve stepped up to Gavin.


    ¡°At least come with us down to Colmcille¡¯s abbey near Gartan,¡± she said. ¡°If you¡¯re not moved to join us after that, then we¡¯ll see you the next time we¡¯re in Dunfanaghy with no hard feelings¡ªat least from our end. Please?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maeve,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll make whatever you want for as long as you want. But getting in the middle of this is not something I can let myself be a part of. Not again. I''ll see you soon.¡±


    Gavin picked up the extra wrappings and turned castle entrance.


    ¡°Gavin, wait!¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Siobhan, please. I can¡¯t have made myself any clearer. I¡¯m heading to Murrough¡¯s now.¡±


    ¡°I know. I just wanted to tell you to knock on the tower house door and take some food with you. No sense in going without lunch. Grab enough for dinner, too.¡±


    Gavin dropped his head and smiled.


    ¡°I will, thanks. Good luck to you down there.¡±

 23) Martial magic / Donals offer

    Donal placed a chair against the wall directly behind the tower house.


    ¡°Are you sure this is going to be comfortable enough?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Well, seein¡¯ as the surgeon¡¯s room barely holds two people when they aren¡¯t sparring, this seems the only choice,¡± Niall said. ¡°The bawn is the biggest area available.¡±


    Nectan carried in an archery target, as did his younger brother Ruarcc and their cousins Dougal and Fintan. At lunch Faelan tasked Nectan with placing the two bales of straw, two barrels disguised as training partners and four archery targets along the bawn walls. For his part, Donal helped Faelan bring out two armfuls each of spears too dull to cut bread. They leaned them all against the wall next to Niall.


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re going to need all this for just an hour or two?¡± Donal asked. ¡°It was my understanding that we¡¯re leaving tomorrow as long as Niall¡¯s up for it.¡±


    ¡°I think two hours would be the minimum, don¡¯t you?¡± Faelan asked. ¡°As for the equipment, better to have and not need than the other way ¡®round.¡±


    He tilted his head toward the boys.


    ¡°That and Ruiri wanted the lads out from under foot. The bales are for them,¡± he said.


    He narrowed his eyes at their placement next to the wooden figures.


    ¡°Speaking of, lads, why don¡¯t you move the straw next to Niall? It will consolidate the areas we want to avoid.¡±


    Donal caught a glimpse of movement through the castle¡¯s rear entrance. Finn and Siobhan had been swinging wooden practice swords in the yard since lunch. Donal wondered why he warranted the audience instead of them.


    The crowd seated, Faelan grabbed a spear from the line along the wall and handed it to Donal.


    ¡°I trust by now that you¡¯ve heard enough about the basics of our magic?¡± Faelan asked.


    ¡°You summon it from some other place, then take some of the energy from here and give it back.¡±


    Faelan shrugged.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ close enough. Druids, fil¨ª, sorcerers, they speak an incantation to focus on the effect they want to achieve. Some of the great ones didn¡¯t need to speak an incantation at all. They did it by focus and emotion.¡±


    ¡°Grand, but I¡¯m not any of those,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not, but you¡¯ll understand why I mentioned the others in a moment. I understand you¡¯ve shown some great physical feats in the past week?¡±


    ¡°Just that lucky throw against the dullahan. Before you ask, I still don¡¯t know how I did it. I just threw it without thinking.¡±


    ¡°Niall says you left one of his trees in rag order.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I did. What of it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the one I want to talk about. What were you two doing when you threw that pole through the tree?¡±


    ¡°We were training¡ªat least we were meant to be. Niall started giving out to me and I got mad.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly how I remember it,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°Says him. He poked at me until I got so mad it felt like I was baking in my own skin.¡±


    ¡°Baking?¡± Faelan asked.


    ¡°My skin got hot. Thought it was the sun peeking out until it got too hot for that.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember how you threw it?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Donal said. ¡°I threw it with my arm.¡±


    Donal knew what Faelan meant, but he was tired of the subject. Faelan threw up his hands in surrender.


    ¡°Nevermind,¡± he said. ¡°Any other times come to mind?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°Maeve told me you had quite the throw to pin down the ¨¢vertach,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°I think Maeve emptying half a quiver into its back may have had something to do with it,¡± Donal said. ¡°I guess my throw came last.¡±


    Maeve¡¯s voice rang through the bawn and the growing din in Donal¡¯s head.


    ¡°That''s enough, Donal.¡±


    She shifted two of the boys to the side with a gesture and sat on the straw next to Niall¡¯s chair.


    ¡°How long have you been here?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Long enough to know you¡¯re wasting everybody¡¯s time right now.¡±


    She pointed to Faelan and didn¡¯t utter another word.


    Faelan put a hand on Donal¡¯s shoulder and took a knee to drop below his eye level.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± Faelan said.


    ¡°I have been the whole time,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Good. Now listen.¡±


    ¡°I hear you.¡±


    ¡°Hearing is not listening.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re worried about right now, but everybody here is on your side,¡± Faelan said. ¡°You¡¯ve got raw power, but you can¡¯t control when it comes out. You barely control what you do with it. That¡¯s what I¡¯m here to help with. And I want to help. The two of us will close our eyes, take a deep breath and get back to it. Ready?¡±


    Donal closed his eyes, sneaking one peek to confirm Faelan was following his own direction. He felt the cool air from the bay travel up his nose and down into his lungs. He expanded his cheeks and blew it out slowly.


    He felt calmer. He hated that it made it feel calmer. He hated that little part of him that wanted to stay mad for some inexplicable reason. He hated that he couldn¡¯t say with certainty that little part of him was Shadow¡¯s creation. Yet he was calmer, in spite of it all.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°There you are,¡± Faelan said.


    He rose to his feet.


    ¡°What happened right before you threw your spear at the ¨¢vertach? I¡¯m not judging or critiquing. I want to understand.¡±


    ¡°Finn was worried about it reaching the crypt, and Maeve was too close for the bow. I couldn¡¯t line up a throw, and Finn talked at me like I was worthless.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly how I remember it,¡± said Maeve.


    Niall almost held back his smirk.


    ¡°You know what I mean, Maeve,¡± Donal said. ¡°He wondered if he should have brought me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it,¡± she said.


    ¡°This is good,¡± Faelan said. ¡°Did you feel the heat before the throw?¡±


    Donal¡¯s mouth fell open.


    ¡°I did, come to think of it!¡±


    ¡°Remember earlier, when I talked about the great druids and sorcerers that could do magic with focus and emotion? For s¨ªlrad like yourself that are primarily warriors and fighters, using focus and emotion is how you get things done a majority of the time. It¡¯s called imb¨¢ulad magic.¡±


    ¡°So if I want to do magic, I have to get mad first?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°I hope it¡¯s the exact opposite,¡± Faelan said. ¡°It might get the job done in the short-term, but that¡¯s not a healthy way to be.¡±


    ¡°So what am I meant to do?¡±


    ¡°We have to find a way for you to tap into the plane¡ªMag Mon¡ªwithout burning yourself out in the process," Faelan said. "Stand here.¡±


    He directed Donal to a point in front of one of the archery targets.


    ¡°Find the balance point of the spear. Now hold it as such.¡±


    Faelan brought Donal¡¯s arm up so that the spear was at ear level, parallel to the ground.


    ¡°Now close your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Again?¡±


    Faelan didn¡¯t respond. Donal complied.


    ¡°Think about those last two moments. Don¡¯t focus on the anger. Go back a little further and think about why it made you angry. Don¡¯t throw the spear until you have the answer.¡±


    Donal couldn¡¯t think past the anger. He was stuck on Niall¡¯s prediction of scorn and ridicule and Finn¡¯s lack of confidence. The dismissal from two people so close to him.


    You¡¯re mad because they were right, Shadow told him.


    Not now, Donal thought. Not in front of everyone.


    That¡¯s why you exaggerated to Faelan what they did, Shadow told him. You know they don¡¯t think you can do this. They said it themselves, even if it wasn¡¯t in those words.


    But that¡¯s not what they actually said, Donal thought. That¡¯s what I heard. That¡¯s what--


    Donal felt heat radiate from his chest to his limbs. This heat was different, though. It didn¡¯t happen to him. He caused it.


    He opened his eyes and extended his left arm forward. He pulled imb¨¢ulad energy from Mag Mon forward with the spear and returned some energy with his left hand as it drew backward. His follow-through hunched him forward. His spear pierced the upper right of the target before its head exited through the back of the target¡ªjudging by how little of the handle was visible from the front.


    ¡°Pure quality, lad,¡± Faelan said.


    The boys erupted in whoops and hollers. Maeve and Niall clapped, broad grins on both faces. The cracking of wooden swords behind the castle stopped with the commotion. Finn and Siobhan came to check on the source.


    ¡°What was the answer, boyo?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°I was the one telling myself that I deserved to be dismissed, that I wasn¡¯t good enough. I was mad at myself for thinking it and I was mad at myself for blaming you two for it.¡±


    Niall smiled and nodded.


    Finn walked up and threw his arm over Donal.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to get mad for telling yourself that you missed the center of the target, are you?¡±


    ¡°Are you coddin¡¯ me right now, Finn?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Finn said.


    He gave Donal a pat on the back. ¡°Well done. You should get back to practicing while your head¡¯s in a good state.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Donal said. ¡°Maeve, can you talk to us for a moment?¡±


    Maeve furrowed her brow and looked at Niall, who gestured for her to join the brothers. Donal led them out of listening distance from the rest of the bawn.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the stuff going on in my head¡ªthe shadow and all¡ªis because of this battle magic.¡±


    Finn threw his hands up and stepped back.


    ¡°Donal, what are you on about? And why did you bring her over for this?¡±


    ¡°You can stop pretending, Finn.¡± Donal said. ¡°We talked about it the other night when I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡±


    Finn pulled his head back and raised the left side of his mouth.


    ¡°You did?¡±


    ¡°He did,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I can promise you I took the news much better than that holy show you put on just now. To answer your question, lad: I doubt they are one in the same.¡±


    ¡°You truly think they¡¯re different?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Even though this battle magic is all about emotion and focus?¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t think your shadow is something that can be fixed with a deadly throw or two,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I think it¡¯s going to take time. Maybe while learning how to control the imb¨¢ulad, you also will learn ways to make peace with what¡¯s troubling you.¡±


    Finn looked at Donal and shrugged.


    ¡°I got nothing else to add. I can see now why you told her. Back to training.¡±


    ****


    ¡°There¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand,¡± Donal said, ¡°and I don¡¯t know how to ask it.¡±


    The boys had long lost interest in training. Maeve walked Niall back to the guest quarters. Faelan and Donal were the only two souls in the bawn, taking a break from training and the late afternoon sun.


    ¡°Out with it,¡± Faelan said.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m not the historian that my brother is, but I thought you MacSweeneys were gallowglas. How can you come from Scotland and still be descended from the Tuireann of the Tuatha D¨¦?¡±


    ¡°I think you asked it just fine,¡± Faelan said. ¡°My ancestors did come here several generations ago, but can you guess where my ancestors¡¯ ancestors came from before they moved to Scotland?¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Donal said. ¡°They were from Ireland before that?¡±


    ¡°A branch of the O¡¯Neill clan, if I remember the stories correctly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still a lot of land to gain in just a few generations,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°You¡¯d think so,¡± Faelan said. ¡°Land has a habit of vanishing faster than it¡¯s gained.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Faelan stood up and rubbed the back of his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like ¡®nothing.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Just one of the problems that come with being the youngest in a big family. Ruiri has our lands divided among the five children. When I was your age, he named Lorcan steward of my share. I¡¯ve got a family of my own now, and Lorcan still has no plans to abdicate his stewardship of my lands.¡±


    ¡°Donal and I were talking with your wife last night and she mentioned Lorcan. He sounds like a gombeen, all right.¡±


    A quick laugh burst out of Faelan. He collected himself and rubbed the back of head again.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that in front of anyone else here. Even though most would agree with you. It¡¯s rough right now because Saerlaith and I only get a portion of the money of the land we¡¯re rightfully owed. Lorcan brags about how he¡¯s endured the blight so far¡ªit¡¯s our parcel that¡¯s growing anything. His own land is struggling as much as any other.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°All we want is a fair chance with what¡¯s due us.¡±


    Faelan looked over the rear wall toward the bay. His eyes glazed over in a stare that could have seen Scotland.


    The sun had reached the halfway point of its western decline. In less than an hour it would collide with a wall of towering white clouds that slid over western Tyrconnell on a pewter curtain of rain. The monotonous stretch of dry weather would end soon, but for now the sun held sway over Doe. Its reflection in Faelan¡¯s eyes turned his green irises into their own light source.


    For his part, Donal had no idea where to go with the conversation. The awkwardness was enough to make him ignore his aching muscles and sweat-drenched clothes and resume his training. Faelan¡¯s mind returned to the bawn with a chuckle to himself.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the ungrateful runt of the family in me speaking,¡± Faelan said, ¡°but I¡¯m starting to get a sense of how the O¡¯Gallaghers, MacCleans, MacFaddens¡ªeven ¨¦amon¡¯s people¡ªfelt when my clan took hold here.¡±


    ¡°¨¦amon?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°The Breaslins. You know yourself by now the MacSweeneys removed them from their land east of here.¡±


    ¡°I only know it because Murrough and Niall told me,¡± Donal said. ¡°I had already forgotten they said it was the MacSweeneys who did it.¡±


    ¡°Well, distant relations. By now we¡¯re distant cousins.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying that like I accused you of throwing them out yourself,¡± Donal said. ¡°Well, if Lorcan won¡¯t relent, talk to Siobhan¡¯s mam. Won¡¯t be another year or two before Finn and I fail for good. I¡¯d rather your family take my parents¡¯ house than some bogger I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty bleak,¡± Faelan said. ¡°But that means a lot. Where do you two live?¡±


    ¡°West of Ards Beg, right on Ballyness Bay.¡±


    ¡°How far away is that from here?¡±


    ¡°Maybe an extra hour from your sister-in-law¡¯s place in the Crossroads,¡± Donal said. ¡°Depending on how you travel.¡±


    ¡°That might be enough distance from my brother and father,¡± Faelan said. ¡°It¡¯s grand of you to offer that. If it ever comes to that¡ªand I hope it never does¡ªI will give it some heavy thought. A bit of advice, though?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Your brother¡¯s a sound man and seems like a good brother,¡± Faelan said. ¡°Maybe check with him before you literally give away the farm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give it some heavy thought,¡± Donal said.

 24) Secret benefactor / On to Gartan

    ¡°Oi! Donal!¡±


    Finn slapped his book shut and slid out his bed. He stepped on two rungs before leaping from the ladder and onto the floor of the guest quarters. Donal and Maeve were sitting on one of the lower beds talking with Niall resting in the other.


    ¡°Go get Siobhan,¡± Finn said. ¡°Things have changed.¡±


    Donal looked up at the loft entrance and then back down at Finn, his nose wrinkled and mouth open.


    ¡°How?¡± he asked. ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°Just bring her here,¡± Finn said. ¡°She needs to hear this, too.¡±


    Donal looked at Niall and received a shrug in response.


    ¡°Fine, but I hate trying to go in that tower without her with me. Feels like I¡¯m walking around half-dressed.¡±


    ¡°Do you not wear clothes when you go places?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°Is what you¡¯re wearing right now a service to us?¡±


    ¡°Whisht!¡± Donal said. ¡°Imagine walking through a forest without your bow. That tower just makes me feel uncomfortable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll thank you for going anyway,¡± Finn said. ¡°Quickly, please.¡±


    Donal nodded and left the room.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this about, lad?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°I know why Breaslin is making his move now,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°You learned that from Murrough¡¯s bard book?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°What? No, this is a different one that he lent me when we slept at his place last.¡±


    ¡°Exactly how many books have you been lugging around Tyrconnell?¡± Niall asked. ¡°We¡¯d cover a lot more ground if we weren¡¯t hauling a bleedin¡¯ library around.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a bard now, Niall. There¡¯s a lot I have to commit to memory. Now do you want to hear this, or do you want to talk about travel weight?¡±


    Niall smirked and gave an exaggerated flourish of his hand.


    ¡°By all means, Master Ollav. Enlighten us poor common folk.¡±


    Maeve extended her arms and dropped her head in a bow. When her face lifted, a smirk subverted her expression of fealty.


    ¡°A couple of melters, you two.¡±


    Maeve placed a hand on her chest and looked at Niall with a dropped jaw.


    ¡°Such language! What would the other nobility say if they heard it?¡±


    ¡°Ah well, I¡¯ll just tell it to myself before you scuts make me forget it.¡± Finn said


    He took a breath to reset himself.


    ¡°July¡¯s ending soon, right? That means we¡¯re coming up on Lughnasa.¡±


    ¡°Lad,¡± Niall said, ¡°this isn¡¯t the time to take in a fest¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªEnough! Why do people mark it? And on the first of August?¡±


    ¡°Because their grandmas told ¡®em so?¡± Maeve said.


    Her smirk was gone, replaced by a sigh and disinterest at Finn¡¯s professorial tone. Niall shot Maeve a look from under his brow.


    ¡°For the harvest,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°For the harvest,¡± Finn said. ¡°We spend every July waiting for the grain to grow. We have the other things we do during the festival, sure, but the first grain harvest of the season could be reason alone to have it. But! We didn¡¯t always mark this time of year with Lughnasa, did we?¡±


    Niall¡¯s head shook by fractions.


    ¡°Before the Tuatha D¨¦ landed, this time of year was only marked by one day: Crom Dubh Sunday,¡± Finn said. ¡°Families would pick the bits ready for their first meal of the harvest season. But they¡¯d also have to leave offerings to Crom Dubh out of fear of his wrath.¡±


    ¡°Why would Crom Dubh want flowers so badly that it would cause folk to fear him?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°The tales say it wasn¡¯t just flowers back then, or milk and honey,¡± Finn said. ¡°Crom Dubh was considered an important figure to these people. Among other things, they worshiped him as their god of farming. They¡¯d leave crops, even livestock, as offerings for him.¡±


    ¡°So he¡¯s real?¡± Niall asked.


    Finn stepped backward and canted his head.


    ¡°Given everything you all have told me, shown me and everything we¡¯ve seen, that is the last question I¡¯d expect from you.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t hear much about him¡ªin s¨ªlrad circles, I mean,¡± Niall said. ¡°The Gaels lay their flowers, and the Normans allow it where they hold land. But I can¡¯t remember any Fomori descendants that claimed lineage from him.¡±


    ¡°Crom Dubh¡¯s ties to the Fomori are murky at best¡ªI¡¯ll grant you that,¡± Finn said. ¡°If he¡¯s not Fomori, we¡¯ve landed in a whole new heap of trouble. But if he is, and if he wants to influence our world, does he have to do it through a s¨ªlrad? Why couldn¡¯t it be the man himself?¡±


    Niall held up his healthy arm and showed his palm to Finn.


    ¡°For all we know, and all the things we can do because of our ancestors,¡± Niall said, ¡°we don¡¯t have any record of our ancestors coming back to this world. We can only assume they¡¯re still alive in the otherworlds because no s¨ªlrad of any sort has even fibbed about coming back from any otherworld.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re past the point where we can limit our options, I think,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, lad. Go on.¡±


    ¡°In addition to farming, he was considered by some, perhaps many, of our ancient Gaels to be the god of death. The tales say Crom Dubh was a cruel thing, miserly with his crops. He called the people who left too small an offering ¡°wind farmers¡± and shriveled their lands. People who left no offering at all received a fate much worse. He would send out a rider to collect their souls.¡±


    Maeve leaned backwards on her bed, resting on her hands.


    ¡°A dullahan,¡± she said.


    ¡°Indeed. I say it doesn¡¯t matter whether Crom Dubh is Fomori at this moment, because his goals align too well with Breaslin¡¯s. The significance of his celebrated day has dwindled while the importance of Lughnasa¡ªnamed after one of the Tuatha D¨¦¡ªhas grown. Some of the tales say Lugh himself defeated Crom Dubh and drove him from this world.¡±


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Careful, lad,¡± Niall said. ¡°I¡¯ve read a tale that said St. Patrick did the same.¡±


    ¡°As have I. For the moment let¡¯s go with a version involving two opponents that aren¡¯t separated by several centuries.¡±


    Niall dipped his chin in a single nod.


    ¡°So Lugh banished him from our world and essentially stole his festival,¡± Finn said. ¡°As for Breaslin, not only is he Fomori, but his kin were driven from their own land east of here by the MacSweeneys, descendants of another member of the Tuatha D¨¦. Allegiances have been formed over weaker bonds.¡±


    Niall looked at Maeve, who pursed her lip and shrugged. He turned back to Finn.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done good work here, putting this all together,¡± he said. ¡°Your uncle would be insufferable with pride. But you came down here saying things have changed. You¡¯ve told us why things are different, but not what¡¯s changed in the past hour.¡±


    ¡°Our timing,¡± Finn said. ¡°This year, Crom Dubh Sunday is on the 31st of July, the day before Lughnasa. It¡¯s a year with the opportunity of spiteful timing. If they¡¯re going to do something, it¡¯ll be within the next five days¡ªif not on the day itself. Breaslin is going after the cauldron again, if he¡¯s not already on his way.¡±


    ¡°I thought we knew that,¡± Siobhan said.


    She brushed a thin layer of evening rain out of her hair with her hand and pushed farther into the room. Donal eased himself in behind her, paying his wet hair little mind.


    ¡°Why did you call for me?¡±


    ¡°Things have changed,¡± Finn said. ¡°Can your family help get us ready in time to leave before dawn?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said. ¡°But is Niall ready? He looks better, but not better enough. Roads get rougher down by Gartan.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the time,¡± Niall said. ¡°I¡¯ll have to heal on the run.¡±


    ****


    ¡°Think this will hold?¡± Donal asked. ¡°The whole thing looks arseways.¡±


    He climbed out of the tent he assembled in the back of the wagon and eased himself onto the ground. He drew the hood on his mantle over his head in time to prevent the rain from soaking his hair.


    ¡°We¡¯re not trying to put on notions,¡± Maeve said. ¡°We just need it to keep Niall dry while he rests.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to think Niall shouldn¡¯t be the one riding back there,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Is Master Ollav scared of a little rain?¡± Maeve said with a grin.


    Finn flattened his mouth and looked at Maeve.


    ¡°Are the two of us ever going to have a talk where your side isn¡¯t just taking the piss out of me?¡±


    ¡°Someday,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s today, though, does it?¡±


    Donal giggled. He hoped that day was a long way off.


    ¡°Finn¡¯s right,¡± Niall said. ¡°I¡¯m not in full form, but aside from the aching it was a good night of sleep. My concern is with the one who helped me get it.¡±


    Finn scanned the gatehouse entrance and the windows of the tower house.


    ¡°I could go get her,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be along,¡± Faelan said.


    Faelan stood inside the gatehouse, flanked by Nectan and Saerlaith. The hem of his leine was soaked, as were the breeches under it. Donal wondered at what age jumping in rain puddles became unappealing. Dawn was approaching, but the overcast sky kept the approach to Doe Castle as dark as its interior most evenings.


    ¡°I was so looking forward to Lorcan sending us off,¡± Donal said.


    He felt his brother¡¯s glare but chose not to meet it.


    ¡°More than he was, clearly,¡± said Faelan. ¡°He left before dinner last night, in spite of the rain.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to turn up at his house after this business in Gartan is done,¡± Donal said.


    Faelan laughed.


    ¡°A joyful reunion, that.¡±


    ¡°I hope you covered the gear before you started this faffing around,¡± Niall said.


    Donal pursed the side of his mouth and nodded to Niall.


    ¡°Truly, though,¡± Donal said to Faelan, ¡°thanks for crawling out of bed this early to see us off in this mess. You should head back in.¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Saerlaith said. ¡°Watch yourself out there.¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s voice rang out from an unknown location near the front of the castle.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m coming!¡±


    She jogged into the gatehouse and hugged her relatives. With a last pat on her uncle¡¯s arm, she turned up her hood and joined the rest of her party in the downpour. Finn held up a hand before she climbed into the wagon¡¯s front seat.


    ¡°Siobhan, I think you should rest in the back to start the trip,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°You¡¯re a gas,¡± she said.


    She sidestepped him and hopped into the seat, adjusting her cloak for the rain. She scoffed once she noticed Finn had remained on the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re serious.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    She hopped down and pointed her hands to the sky.


    ¡°Our leader¡¯s still on the mend and you want him to sit out in this?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, lass,¡± Niall said. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine enough, and I have you to thank for it. You were up all night healing me and tending to me. We need you at full strength, too. If the rain starts lashing, I can squeeze in back there, while you rest.¡±


    ¡°And Finn could sit back there with her in the meantime,¡± Maeve said.


    Maeve stared at Siobhan with her eyebrows halfway to her hair and a toothless grin on her face. Siobhan shook her head and turned back to Niall. Donal missed something through the curtains of rain that fell between the group.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this talk about rest, anyway?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°The dead couldn¡¯t sleep while riding these backroads to Gartan.¡±


    Finn took off his mantle.


    ¡°Please try,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Is this meant to be my blanket?¡± Siobhan said.


    Finn¡¯s eyes darted to the ground and rotated his face away from her.


    ¡°A pillow, I was thinkin¡¯,¡± Finn said. ¡°For the rough ride.¡±


    She shook her head and smiled. She reached up and put her hand on his face, wicking some of the rain off his cheek with her thumb.


    ¡°You are a dote, I¡¯ll grant you that,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯ve never met a learned man with less sense. Put on that cloak or all three of us will be riding up front.¡±


    Finn complied with a smile. Siobhan turned to the rear of the wagon, winking at Donal on the way back. Donal was officially clued in.


    ¡°Niall!¡± Siobhan yelled.


    The elder winced at his name.


    ¡°You¡¯re sitting next to me under the tent,¡± she said. ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m certain I heard you tell the rest of ¡®em that I was the leader.¡±


    ¡°Get in here or I¡¯ll start a mutiny.¡±


    ¡°I will, boss,¡± Niall said. ¡°I trust you know the way, Maeve?¡±


    ¡°Head back like we¡¯re goin¡¯ to Creeslough, but turn south at the first bridge. Take the road through the edge of the Derryveaghs and follow it until we get knackered.¡±


    Niall cast a covered eye above him.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. I think the rain is softening. Let¡¯s not waste the chance.¡±


    Maeve led Sc¨¢th past the wagon.


    ¡°We¡¯re leading today, Donal,¡± she said.


    Donal kicked his legs and urged Airgid ahead. He bounced a finger at the tent as he drew even with his brother and grinned. Finn smiled in spite of himself and pointed to the road ahead, holding it there without a word until Donal moved ahead.


    The road out of Doe held up well under the rain. Puddles formed wherever old wheels cut especially deep into the ground.


    ¡°Are you sure I won¡¯t get the wagon stuck in the mud?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Keep your wheels out of the flooded ruts and on the high parts,¡± Maeve said. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°What about these larger puddles down the middle?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Those are flooded hoofprints. Not quite as dangerous, but bad for your passenger¡¯s beauty sleep.¡±


    ¡°Must be from Lorcan¡¯s horse,¡± Donal said. ¡°Unless one of these other two sets along the edges are his.¡±


    ¡°The rain makes it difficult to tell without stopping¡ªand I¡¯m not stopping,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Judging the lack of water that¡¯s collected, they were either left within the past two hours, or they¡¯re much older and worn thin. I don¡¯t know anyone but us that had a reason to be out in this weather before dawn, so I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re older.¡±


    They turned left towards Creeslough. The puddles created by Lorcan¡¯s horse, however, led straight ahead until the road disappeared from sight to the north. The only hoofprints that accompanied them clung to the right shoulder, heading to town. Maeve led the group south toward the bridge after forty yards along the main road.


    There were no marks on this new path, only soft mud from thicket to thicket. Finn¡¯s posture was tense. His eyes never strayed far from Maeve, as if she was the one willing his wagon forward and the wagon would sink into the muck if his eyes broke connection with her.


    The bridge over the Dunfally River appeared before them with little warning. The tree cover broke open above them as they rounded a bend. Wagon wheels bumped on the stone as they left the mud behind. Niall let out a soft grunt when the back of the wagon landed.


    To Donal¡¯s left, the Dunfally ran into Sheephaven Bay. Droplets on his sleeves and mantle were the only evidence that they rode through mist and not fog. Patches of blue sky provided hope that the worst of the rain was finally over.


    Maeve veered left as they cleared the bridge.


    ¡°This feels off,¡± Donal said. ¡°We¡¯re going toward the sea.¡±


    ¡°Not for long,¡± Maeve said. ¡°We¡¯re following the flattest path over this part of the Derryveagh Mountains. It rounds back east on the other side. We¡¯ll have a wider vantage and less company on the road. The best part: if the maps at Doe are accurate, there are no portal tombs, passage graves or circles near the road. It will be miles before we risk intervention from Breaslin, Crom Dubh, or anyone else looking to ruin my day.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not so bad, though,¡± Finn said. ¡°At least the road on this side of the bridge is a bit more solid. I think Siobhan might have overstated the roughness of it.¡±


    ¡°Do you, now?¡± a female voice called from the tent behind him.


    ¡°I¡¯m merely going by the looks of it so far.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been on it for five minutes,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°You can tell me I¡¯m wrong after we¡¯ve traveled it for a full day.¡±


    ¡°That long?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s for the best,¡± Maeve said. ¡°As your brother said last night, we need to get there quickly and unscathed, if possible.¡±


    ¡°Oi, Finn,¡± Donal said. ¡°Remember up north when you were talking about every trip having at least one mind-numbing stretch?¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡±


    ¡°What do you do when that stretch covers the entire trip?¡±


    ¡°Try your best not to complain about it,¡± Finn said. ¡°Lest you make it even longer.¡±

 25) The creeping fog

    If there were worse conditions for traveling down one road for an entire day, Donal dared not dream of them. The buckets of rain above had emptied themselves but the early-morning signs of a clear sky were nothing but a tease of radiance that would not come.


    The group paused to eat and water at the crossing of the Owencarrow River less than two hours ago. With the heaviest rain now east of them, Niall and Finn tore down the tent in the wagon during their rest¡ªan encouraging development for most. Donal¡¯s focus, however, remained with the soft mist that fell from a sky of monotone grey.


    He squinted at the road ahead from the front seat of the wagon as they rounded yet another bend bordered by hills too flat for beauty but tall enough to inhibit the wide vantages promised by Maeve. The road forked ahead, and twenty yards beyond it a thick cloud clung to their intended path.


    ¡°And now there¡¯s fog,¡± he said. ¡°Grand.¡±


    ¡°No surprise with how wet we are today,¡± Finn said.


    His brother didn¡¯t open his eyes to confirm. He sat with his back leaning against one of the walls of the wagon¡¯s cargo area. The expression on Maeve¡¯s face remained unchanged despite the fact she now held the wagon¡¯s reins. Donal couldn¡¯t determine if it was out of disinterest or distraction.


    ¡°Don¡¯t often see fog roll like that,¡± Siobhan said.


    The fog thickened in front of them, but only in front of them. It didn¡¯t creep in all directions and collect in the lowest-lying areas, which in this case would include the other path. This fog drifted left-to-right, and now that it obscured the road it drifted away from them.


    Maeve¡¯s back stiffened below her neck. She pushed her head forward, squinted her eyes and found something worthy of her interest.


    ¡°Oi! Stall it!¡± she said.


    She didn¡¯t whisper but she did take all of the throat out of her words.


    ¡°I see somebody. Hang on, two people.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°Sixty yards past the turn, thirty yards off the road.¡±


    Siobhan tilted her head from side to side.


    ¡°How did you see that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°How did you not see it?¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Are they carrying weapons?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°I can only see their head and shoulders,¡± Maeve said. ¡°No visible helmets or armor. They look odd, though.¡±


    ¡°Odd, how?¡± Donal asked. ¡°More fear gortas?¡±


    ¡°Doubt it. These look more formidable.¡±


    Finn stood up in the back of the wagon.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re concerned about that,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t the fog covering the other road?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Niall said,¡± but ¡°I¡¯m thinkin¡¯ that we should make the turn for now. See how far west this fog stretches.¡±


    ¡°It could be clear for a reason,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Maybe they want to lead us into a trap.¡±


    ¡°Sure, or they just want to lead us away,¡± Niall said. ¡°Every other path between us and the abbey is at least twice as long as the road in front of us. Siobhan?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a trap or a detour,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Either way we have to deal with it. I say we poke around and see if we can¡¯t clear the air, so to speak.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re agreed in spirit, then,¡± Niall said. ¡°Turn left and suss it out. Same speed as we were, though. Try to act casual as we pass them.¡±


    ¡°Nothing more casual than a group of people seeing you, pointing and staring at you and then slowly going a different way,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Better than jumping to a gallop,¡± Niall said. ¡°Siobhan and Maeve, let¡¯s get you in your proper positions and go.¡±


    Siobhan kicked her legs and drew Sc¨¢th even with the wagon. The ladies climbed down and changed seats. Siobhan fanned the reins and led the team the final forty yards before the turn left.


    Apart from the supernatural fog that clung along the ridge on the right, this stretch of road resembled all the rest Donal traveled this side of the Derryveaghs. Shaggy grass climbed over bumpy ground on both sides of the road, broken intermittently by either small ponds or large puddles¡ªDonal couldn¡¯t decide which. Shrubs covered the ground higher up from the road, surrounding large misshapen boulders that stuck out like teeth from a skeleton¡¯s jaw.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone else up there,¡± Donal said.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°They¡¯re up there. Likely over the ridge,¡± Niall said. ¡°We should find a path up there once we reach a point where the fog thins.¡±


    That point took its time to reveal itself. They passed no houses or travelers and found no paths to tread up the uneven ridge. Finn swayed and tapped his leg as he scanned the road ahead. He climbed to his knees at the site of the dilapidated house on the right just past a small creek.


    ¡°There,¡± he said. ¡°Turn in there.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get closer first before we decide,¡± Niall said.


    A large hole had formed in the thatch roof. The door was missing and the only shutter that remained hung from its bottom hinge. Something had knocked several holes in the walls near the ground. Several patches of exposed wattle dotted the rest of the structure. The stench of mold carried all the way to the road.


    ¡°Nobody¡¯s here,¡± Niall said. ¡°Let¡¯s take the horses off the road and tie them behind the house.¡±


    Horses secure and weapons in hand, Niall led the group along the creek next to the house. Donal stared at the fog to the north, straining to see shapes or movement. He checked with Maeve and Niall after every few steps to confirm he was looking in the proper direction.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Siobhan asked.


    She pointed to an area of raised ground left of the creek, 150 yards where they stood. The team approached the patch beside each other in deliberate steps. Smells of mold and rotten wood gave way to those of rotten cabbage and fish. Wide ankle-high shadows darkened and revealed themselves as large stone slabs intentionally laid on the ground. Niall raised a hand to halt their advancement.


    ¡°It¡¯s a graveyard,¡± he whispered. ¡°An old one.¡±


    ¡°Is this the source of the fog?¡± Donal asked.


    He kept his voice quieter than his elder¡¯s.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Finn whispered. ¡°It would have been thickest here. Listen!¡±


    The sounds of ten feet crunching grass had faded. Hollow hisses and the sounds of faint footfalls emerged from their right.


    ¡°That has to be the people¡ªor things¡ªwe saw earlier,¡± Maeve said.


    Siobhan¡¯s pulled her leaf blade from its scabbard.


    ¡°Ahead of us!¡± she said. ¡°Tr¨¦an¨¢il!¡±


    The head of her staff emitted yellow light. A similar light ran across her sword from pommel to tip and faded.


    The remaining four looked back to the graveyard and all but Niall stepped backward from what they found. Five figures now stood before them both in and around the graveyard, the nearest a mere fifteen yards away.


    ¡°Did they come out of the ground?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°If they did, it wasn¡¯t from digging,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Did they apparate?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°Finn, did you see a door open?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re coming over,¡± Niall said. ¡°We can wait and ask them if you all are so curious.¡±


    Maeve knocked an arrow.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not,¡± she said.


    She loosed the arrow and struck one of the figures on the far side of the graveyard in the upper body. The creature groaned as it fell to the ground.


    ¡°Finn, you and I will take the left side. Donal and Siobhan, go right. Maeve, cover us from the rear.¡±


    Donal squeezed the oaken handle of his spear and stepped toward the nearest shadow that approached from the right. This was nothing he¡¯d ever encountered. The group had the numbers in their fight against the ¨¢vertach¡ªand better visibility. Neither advantage applied here. For a fleeting moment Donal forgot all of his training. For a fleeting moment, he forgot how to swing a spear.


    Two creatures walked toward him. Broad shoulders tapered down to a waist that should not have supported their seven-foot frames. Elbows hung even with stomachs, the tips of their elongated claws ended just above the knees. Their heads were hooded yet no cloak flowed behind them. A large raven¡¯s beak extended from under their hoods.


    ¡°These things have beaks?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re sluagh, I think,¡± Finn said. ¡°Demons possessed by souls of corrupted and tormented people.¡±


    The closest sluagh was within arm¡¯s reach of Donal. He felt a surge of dread and helplessness that would make his Shadow jealous as the creature towered over him. It reached back and brought down its claw at Donal.


    The glowing head of Siobhan¡¯s staff streaked upwards in front of Donal¡¯s face as she blocked the sluagh¡¯s strike, exposing its torso to her blade. She struck with a backhanded slash that sent the sluagh backwards with a wince.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let their size fool you,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°You¡¯ve trained for tougher fights than this.¡±


    She stepped in and clubbed the monster¡¯s other claw and followed it with another sword strike, sending her opponent reeling.


    Donal doubted the assertion, but the simple act of searching for a memory to disprove her cleared the logjam in his mind. It was flooded with memories of Niall¡¯s and Faelan¡¯s training sessions.


    The second sluagh neared Siobhan. Donal sprinted toward it and spun his spear overhead. It struck both claws of the creature multiple times but the creature did not recoil from him as sharply as the first one did from Siobhan¡¯s leaf blade.


    That¡¯s it, Donal thought to himself.


    He stepped in front of the sluagh and rapped its claws from above with the wooden handle. He brought the handle high to push the claws upward. He swung the spear around and stuck the silver tip into the sluagh¡¯s chest. Elongated bony fingers clutched at the wound as the creature collapsed.


    Donal¡¯s fog of war expanded with each deep breath. The first sluagh dropped to its knees in front of Siobhan. Maeve loosed another arrow at a target on the right twelve yards in front of him. Alternating thuds and slices from Niall¡¯s weapons echoed from his far left.


    Finn struggled the most. His sword lacked the reach of Donal¡¯s spear and to this point he found little purchase with his magic. The sluagh swung the back of its hand at Finn¡¯s sword, knocking him off-balance. The creature raised its other arm.


    Donal charged and caught the monster unaware. He drove his spear into the creature under its left arm and then pushed the handle upwards, leveraging it to the ground.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Finn said.


    His eyes widened and focused on something over Donal¡¯s left shoulder.


    The creature wheezed behind him, but it was too late to turn and reposition himself. He shoved his brother backwards and dropped to his right. He wanted to roll into a position that faced the new opponent. Something whistled above his head. Donal twisted his body to face the creature and saw an arrow sticking out of the sluagh¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Was that all of them?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°I hear more in the distance,¡± Maeve said. ¡°But I don¡¯t see any nearby.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s push ahead and get out of this graveyard,¡± Niall said. ¡°Before we do, though, I have to ask: how did you two defeat yours so quickly? I had to batter mine properly until Maeve dropped it.¡±


    Siobhan grinned.


    ¡°Natural talent and flawless technique?¡±


    She dropped the grin and held up her right hand.


    ¡°Calm down, old man,¡± she said. ¡°Bring your weapons in.¡±


    The men approached her and did as instructed.


    ¡°Tr¨¦an¨¢il,¡± she said.


    A yellow glow ran across each of their weapons from base of their handles to their tips. Donal and Finn held their weapons aloft while they twisted and examined them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Niall said. ¡°Keep the same formation. The source of this corruption has to be where the fog is at its thickest.¡±


    ¡°Give me time to retrieve my arrows,¡± Maeve said. ¡°These silver broadheads Gavin gave me are savage.¡±


    ¡°Siobhan and I will help,¡± Niall said. ¡°Lads, ease up to the creek only as close as you need to see how many of those things are ahead of us.¡±

 26) Finding the source

    Finn stepped carefully with his brother through the graveyard around capstones both overgrown and freshly opened. He and Donal sidled down the short slope toward the creek. Hissing, wheezing and groaning echoed from a higher position than his in the distance.


    ¡°Do you see anything?¡± Donal asked him.


    ¡°I do not, but I think I just heard a wingbeat,¡± Finn said. ¡°Hopefully whatever¡¯s out there can¡¯t see us, either.¡±


    Five minutes of disembodied noises passed before the sound of footsteps approached from behind.


    ¡°Anything?¡± Siobhan asked him.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to cross the creek before we¡¯ll see even a change in terrain,¡± Finn said. ¡°And it will. They¡¯re higher than us.¡±


    ¡°How many do you hear, lads?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°Too many to count,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s cross together, then,¡± Niall said. ¡°Siobhan, you and I will stick to the outside. Don¡¯t get flanked. Boys, you keep us together. Stay within sight of each other and we¡¯ll stay within sight of you.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t going to work,¡± Maeve said. ¡°It¡¯s too thick to see anything at range. The risk of me wingin¡¯ you in this mess is too high for my comfort.¡±


    ¡°New plan, then,¡± Niall said. ¡°Maeve runs between us. Donal and Finn stay within sight and do not let anything near her. She¡¯s deft at close combat, but if she¡¯s doing that she¡¯s not covering us.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°And Maeve, keep an eye behind us. I don¡¯t like how those things appeared out of nowhere.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± she said.


    The five hurdled the creek and fanned out. Visibility kept their spacing within twelve yards. They walked seventy more before the front slope of a ridge came into view.


    Maeve let her voice carry only as far as she felt comfortable.


    ¡°There they are,¡± Maeve said. ¡°At the crest of the ridge. Five on our side. I can see the heads of four more on the other.


    Niall and Siobhan heard her speak but couldn¡¯t make out the words.


    ¡°I see three of those things in front of us,¡± Niall whispered to Finn.


    ¡°Maeve said there¡¯s two more ahead of the others, and at least four more over the ridge,¡± Finn whispered.


    ¡°Tell her we fight on her shot,¡± Niall said. ¡°It would be grand if she could drop another before we swung a weapon.¡±


    Maeve nodded after Finn relayed the message. She moved in deliberate half-strides. Her left foot led and her right met it without overstepping. After a few steps the sluagh¡¯ shadow materialized in the fog in front of Finn, aligned just as Maeve described. She shifted her feet into the proper base, knocked an arrow and took aim at the sluagh standing in the middle of the crowd.


    ¡°Be ready,¡± she whispered.


    Wingbeats emerged twenty feet above Maeve¡¯s head. She tilted forward in surprise as her fingers loosed the arrow. Finn looked at the air directly above her but saw nothing. Instead the wingbeats trailed ahead of them over the ridge, leaving only the sound of a sluagh hissing at the arrow embedded in its lower leg.


    Maeve cursed at the empty sky above her.


    ¡°I guess that means ¡®go!¡¯¡± Niall yelled. ¡°Don¡¯t run ahead. Keep the line, move forward together.¡±


    The wounded sluagh limped down the hill at Maeve. Other creatures in the vicinity wheezed and hissed as they searched through the fog for the commotion. Their search ended quickly and they ran down the slope towards the group.


    Niall staggered the first monster to reach him with one swing of his mace.


    ¡°Much better,¡± he said. ¡°Wish she would have blessed our weapons sooner.¡±


    Finn fought the other sluagh with less than full faith in his fighting skills. He swung Fragarach with both hands, fearful to let his left hand fall off the handle. The creature raised an arm to attack. Finn slid to his right and swung the blade sideways, burying his blade in what passed for the sluagh¡¯s ribs.


    Stolen story; please report.


    He glimpsed the field beyond his current foe. Another creature descended the hill. Two more climbed the other side. Judging from sounds, a dozen more were far behind this ridge. There were too many. Fighting these creatures five at a time would take several hours at the current rate.


    ¡°This is taking too long,¡± Finn yelled to Niall.


    They¡¯d lose another hour locating and removing the source of the curse. Then they would rest and lick their wounds¡ªand who could rest knowing how far behind Breaslin they had fallen?


    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± Niall said.


    Niall¡¯s opponent was hunched over to his left, unable to prevent the combination that would end it.


    ¡°Knock your sluagh backwards and in my direction.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°So he can meet up with my friend here.¡±


    Niall narrowed his eyes at Finn. Had they more time, this would be more of a debate. He swung the mace in his left hand, sending the crouching sluagh flying away from him at an angle. Finn put his foot on his creature¡¯s stomach and pushed it backwards onto its deceased partner.


    He followed it up the hill. The three new combatants neared. Finn took a breath, pulled his left hand in and pushed it toward the five sluagh.


    ¡°T¨®rann!¡±


    Nothing came forth from the other plane.


    ¡°T¨®rann!¡±


    ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for practice, lad!¡± Niall said.


    Finn pulled and pushed his left hand slower and yelled a bit louder.


    ¡°T¨®rann nerto!¡±


    Static shock backfired and arced between his fingers. Finn yelped and shook his hand, a taste of metal in his mouth.


    ¡°Finn?¡±


    Finn looked at his left hand.


    You did it before, he thought to himself. Are you too scared? You¡¯re doing it just like you did in training¡ª


    Finn tilted his head back and groaned at the sky. He shifted the sword to his non-dominant hand. The three new sluagh stepped over their fallen comrades and reached for him. Finn pulled back his right hand and shoved it at the monstrous pile.


    ¡°T¨®rann nerto!¡±


    The hairs on his right arm stood on end. Lightning arced between his fingers but caused no pain this time. It took less than a second for a ball of lightning to form in front of his palm and disappear, creating a concussive wave in its absence.


    The wave rolled toward the pile of creatures, launching them backwards five yards from their original spot. The first pair lay motionless. The three new sluagh were fumbling to stand.


    ¡°Now!¡± yelled Finn. ¡°Get them while they¡¯re down!¡±


    Finn and Niall ran them and stabbed each monster once in the chest. The men surveyed their surroundings and saw Maeve jogging into clear view.


    ¡°You two trying to draw even more attention to us?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We tried being quiet and polite,¡± Niall said. ¡°They still wanted to hit us.¡±


    ¡°But we were able to drop several with basically one blow,¡± Finn said. ¡°Oi! Since we¡¯re fine, shouldn¡¯t you be helping Siobhan and my brother?¡±


    ¡°I think that end of the ridge is clear now,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Already?¡± Finn asked. ¡°How did they keep it so quiet?¡±


    ¡°Siobhan entangled groups of ¡®em while Donal and I finished them off.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Finn said.


    Even if he couldn¡¯t summon the roots like a druid, Finn still felt embarrassed that he didn¡¯t at least think of it. That was a great plan. The pride he felt over his thunder spell developed a speck of tarnish.


    ¡°Did either of you ever see whatever it was that flew over me at the start of the fight?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°It was probably one of the sluagh we haven¡¯t got to yet,¡± Finn said.


    Maeve grabbed Finn¡¯s arm. Her tone turned sober.


    ¡°They can do that?¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°They¡¯re meant to have wings and they fly sometimes,¡± Finn said ¡°My guess is the fog takes away the advantage of flying. I wonder if Breaslin thought of that when he set this mess up.¡±


    Siobhan and Donal caught up with the other three.


    ¡°Heard the show you put on,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Sorry we missed it.¡±


    ¡°It took three tries and I had to switch which hand I used,¡± Finn said. ¡°Could have gone smoother.¡±


    Siobhan laughed.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to practice casting with your left hand for a while before it feels natural.¡±


    She scanned the field ahead. Her smile faded.


    ¡°At a later time, though,¡± she said. ¡°Niall!¡±


    ¡°I see them,¡± he said.


    A dozen more sluagh stood scattered across the field at the bottom of the slope. A handful more stood near a circular hole two hundred yards away. Several of the creatures in the field ambled toward the slope. Finn had little doubt the sound of his thunder spell grabbed their attention.


    ¡°Maeve, tell me you can cover us from here,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°I can see it all,¡± she said.


    ¡°Brilliant. We¡¯re splitting wide this time. Siobhan, work your way to the sides and then push to the middle. Finn, you¡¯re with me. Maeve, you take any that don¡¯t follow us back and any others you can after that.¡±


    Niall led Finn down the left side of the field. Three sluagh followed them. If injury hindered Niall¡¯s fighting ability, Finn didn¡¯t see it. He dodged a swipe and dispatched his opponent with a swing of the mace and two of the sword. Finn, however, struggled more than the previous fight. He lacked the skill to wield his magic or sword effectively with his left hand. He settled on a strategy of using magic to knock his opponent off balance and the sword to finish the job.


    ¡°Boc¨®it,¡± he said.


    His right arm warmed, encircled by pale yellow light the size of one of Gavin¡¯s bucklers. A faint smell of incense entered his nose as he used the lambent shape to knock away a sluagh¡¯s claw. Followed with a quick wind spell, Finn had the opening he needed to defeat the monster with his sword¡ªdespite using his weaker hand.


    An arrow whistled through the air in front of him and struck its target with a thud as Finn removed the sword from his foe. He raised his head and confirmed that Maeve had downed the third sluagh for them.


    ¡°Farther!¡± Niall said.


    The hole he spotted from higher ground was a hundred yards away but Niall continued in a tangential path beside it. The stench was now strong enough to stagger his pace.


    Finn used the short break to listen for Donal and Siobhan. The fog obscured them from view, but the sounds of weapon strikes and odd noises indicated they were alive and keeping with their end of the plan.


    ¡°This is far enough,¡± Niall said after twenty more paces. ¡°Now we push toward that pit.¡±


    Finn moved toward the group of sluagh. He sized up the nearest creature on the right side. He stepped with striking range and adjusted into a battle-worthy stance. Wing flaps emerged from his right side and a flying sluagh knocked Finn airborne before the word ¡°boc¨®it¡± could echo from the hills.

 27) The pond

    Finn gulped for air. None came¡ªat first. The landing forced the air from his lungs. He heard Niall call his name but did not know how to answer.


    His shield spell took the brunt of the sluagh¡¯s initial swipe, but his body twisted in midair and the left side of his body was exposed. The sluagh did not attempt to snatch him from the field like an owl to a mouse. Instead it swiped at Finn with its other arm. His backward moment saved him from a maiming.


    Finn never expected to be this happy to breathe such foul air. He twisted his torso to prop himself up with his right arm. His left hand found the sword knocked loose by a hard landing.


    Footsteps approached behind him. A shadow loomed over him from behind. Finn took the sword in his outstretched hand and swung it backwards above its head. It clanged against another blade. He tilted his head further back and saw Niall¡¯s face behind crossed blades.


    ¡°Are you hurt, lad?¡±


    Finn patted the sore areas he could reach with his right hand. Three shallow slices ran from the upper left chest of his padded gambeson to his left shoulder. He checked his fingers for any blood picked up during the inspection but they were dry.


    ¡°It seems I owe that O¡¯Roarke fella another apology,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°And the benefit of the doubt from now on,¡± Niall said. ¡°Come on.¡±


    Niall reached out an arm and helped Finn to his feet. His circle of awareness nearly restored, he heard Donal and Siobhan shout his name in between hisses and weapon strikes. A sluagh swung at Niall from the left, compelling his attention. Finn bought the extra moment he needed to collect himself with a large push of wind.


    ¡°Finn!¡± Donal yelled.


    He was closer, maybe fifteen yards from the hole.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Finn yelled.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I took a little flight.¡±


    ¡°You better be joking,¡± Siobhan yelled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not hurt,¡± Finn yelled.


    ¡°Sure look, if you¡¯re not busy, perhaps you three can help we with these creatures?¡± Niall yelled. ¡°For instance, do we think that pit is the source of this mess?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t feel that?¡± Siobhan yelled. ¡°That imbalance in the air?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say that I can¡¯t,¡± Niall yelled. ¡°For argument¡¯s sake.¡±


    Finn heard an arrow strike another sluagh 30 yards in front of him.


    ¡°It is the source of the curse,¡± she yelled. ¡°We¡¯d have to beat all of these things before we could properly examine it.¡±


    ¡°Siobhan, Finn, fall behind us. Far behind. We¡¯re going to draw them farther down the field. Once Donal and I are well beyond the pit, you two move in¡ªquietly¡ªand see what you can do.¡±


    ¡°Now, Donal!¡± Niall yelled.


    The old man pushed closer to the sluagh and then moved farther west, away from the pit, landing only as many weapon blows as necessary to draw them after him. Finn heard his brother in the distance yelling and grunting. To hear these noises directed at somebody or something else was a new experience.


    Finn crept to the pit, scanning the fog for any signs of Siobhan. The yellow light atop her staff pierced the fog before her shadow darkened it. They jogged toward each other and embraced. Siobhan ran her finger over one of the lacerations on Finn¡¯s gambeson as they pulled away.


    ¡°Maeve will not let you live this down,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Won¡¯t that be a nice change?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Let¡¯s check out that pit.¡±


    Finn and Siobhan moved within five feet of their objective. Reflections of the foggy sky above glinted off the bottom. This wasn¡¯t a pit, it was a small lake¡ªan unnaturally round pond, twenty feet in diameter.


    There was no bank to it, just a twelve-inch drop straight into the water. Finn knew this was the source of the curse. The stench choked his throat and watered his eyes as he stood at the pond¡¯s edge.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I expected, but it wasn¡¯t this,¡± he said. ¡°What could they have done to this pond to sprout these sluagh?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look, shall we?¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Solus.¡±


    A ball of light appeared in front of Siobhan¡¯s hand. It advanced toward the pond with a gentle wave of her hand. She turned her palm downwards and it descended into the water, its refracted light illuminating the entire pond. A pile had formed in the middle of the pond bed. Finn recoiled as the light rested next to the pile.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°Are those¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªBones. Remains,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°And something odd among it¡ªlikely a talisman or cursed object. I¡¯d wager these bones came from that graveyard. Sluagh are rogue spirits after all, right?¡±


    ¡°More or less,¡± Finn said. ¡°I thought they were supposed to be people caught between heaven and hell. What are we meant to do?¡±


    She stooped at the edge of the pond.


    ¡°We have to cleanse it,¡± she said. ¡°Though I¡¯m not sure I have the exact spell for the job.¡±


    She stood up and closed her eyes.


    ¡°¨ªccaid,¡± she said.


    The air around her hand glowed green. Nothing else happened.


    ¡°L¨²an.¡±


    A pale beam of light dropped through the clouds directly onto the pile at the bottom of the pond. Siobhan pulled her hands apart and the beam widened until it reached the pond¡¯s edge. She held it for ten seconds. Finn looked in the direction where he last heard Donal and Niall hoping to see some indication that her spell was working. When she pulled her hands back the light faded and Finn found that nothing had changed. She slammed the bottom of the staff on the grass.


    ¡°Any other ideas?¡± she asked.


    Finn stooped and coughed up the putrid air.


    ¡°How are you not choking yourself?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Four older brothers, maybe?¡± she said. ¡°Is this the thing we need to be solving right now?¡±


    Finn stared at the pond.


    ¡°What happens if I just jump in and pull that mess out?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I think you¡¯d be cursed by the water long before you got your hands on the talisman,¡± she said.


    ¡°The water,¡± Finn asked. ¡°What if I fixed the water?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it will work, but we¡¯re almost out of ideas. Give it a lash.¡±


    Finn stood up.


    ¡°Uisce gl¨¦id.¡±


    The water vibrated. Small bits of sludge ascended out of the water and collected into swirling blobs that hung inches above the water¡¯s surface.


    ¡°Now what do I do?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Use your hands,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Guide it away.¡±


    Finn looked around the pond and then quickly swung his hands to his right. The cursed substance slid through the air thirty yards away and landed on the ground with a squelch.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°You said I could move it, so I moved it somewhere I couldn¡¯t smell it.¡±


    She shook her head and squinted her eyes in their friends¡¯ direction.


    ¡°I was right, though,¡± he said. ¡°Look. Smell.¡±


    They no longer needed a light to see the pile at the bottom of the pond. Any residual smell came from the fog that surrounded them, not the pond over which they stood.


    ¡°Grand!¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Let¡¯s push forward and help the others finish this.¡±


    Finn checked the ground around him for anything he might have dropped. He cast one last glance at the water as he walked away, but stopped dead in his tracks.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t work!¡± he yelled.


    The water began to cloud. All the ill effects of the curse soon would follow. Finn threw his head back and let out a guttural cry of frustration. It was answered with the hiss of several sluagh from his right.


    ¡°Not your finest move!¡± Maeve yelled.


    Her shadow approached from the east. She shoved her nose and mouth into the bend of her elbow.


    ¡°That¡¯s the source of all this, I take it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It is, and we¡¯re out of ideas,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Maybe not,¡± Finn said. ¡°I need a moment to think.¡±


    Maeve scoffed.


    ¡°You won¡¯t have more than that, I fear,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We can¡¯t assume that all the sluagh are already freed. More might come from behind. Maeve and I will take these monsters on our right. Think fast.¡±


    Finn nodded and cast his eyes down toward the pond. Siobhan could not cure the pile. He could not cleanse the water. Siobhan¡¯s light had no effect. he ran through the remaining options in his mind.


    The whole setup reeked of death. Its power and execution was beyond any untangling at the hands of druids or fil¨ª. He needed something more ancient, more primal, more divine.


    Finn closed his eyes and recalled the way his arm felt with the shield spell above it. He cycled through memories of stepping through Catholic churches and monasteries. The feeling of the sun on his skin in the stone circle a few days ago.


    He drew in a long breath through his nose, surprised at how much it felt like the air in the tomb at Ards Beg or at Marfagh.


    He had it. He opened his eyes and moved his hands in a circular motion.


    ¡°Beir teine ar an ¨¦ilned so!¡±


    He stared at the talisman at the bottom of the pond. Bubbles formed and clung to the bones. A few of them escaped to the surface. More followed. Soon the center of the pond began to roll. A thin trail of dark steam rose from the water. The scent of rotting fish faded, now replaced with incense.


    That couldn¡¯t be smoke¡ªcould it? Finn thought to himself.


    Two seconds later, six feet under the surface of the pond, a flame appeared.


    The spark startled Finn. The hitch in his movement nearly disrupted the spell. The longer he held the cast, the easier it was to keep his motions smooth and rhythmic. White flames engulfed the entire pile and the water¡¯s surface rolled as if were boiling, yet the pond emitted no heat.


    The flames dwindled after one minute. The surface water stilled. Finn rested his arms at his side after the last flame had died. He drew his sword and strained his ears to determine which pair needed the most help. The fog around the pond had thinned and his field of view expanded as it rolled away.


    Maeve and Siobhan had defeated the last creature that threatened from his right. There were no sounds of combat ahead of him, and within moments the shapes of his brother and Niall appeared on the edge of the retreating fog.


    The five reunited around the pond and stared at its surface.


    ¡°What did you do, lad?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°I set it on fire,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan whipped her head in his direction.


    ¡°I thought I told you not to go in that water!¡± she said. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    She started scanning him and using the bottom of her staff to poke at the folds in his clothes. He grabbed the end of her staff and held it away from his body.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Siobhan. I didn¡¯t go in. I cast it from up here. I figured out what I could do¡ªI just didn¡¯t know how it would work down there.¡±


    Donal held his hand up to stop his brother.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying that you started a fire at the bottom of a pond?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°It looked and acted like fire,¡± Finn said. ¡°But not like a normal one.¡±


    ¡°Really now?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°That pile of ash in the middle of the pond bed sure looks like the leftovers of a normal, run-of-the-mill underwater fire.¡±


    ¡°You know what I mean,¡± he said.


    ¡°We do,¡± Niall said. ¡°Let¡¯s work our way back to the old house and see if our horses are still there.¡±


    Niall walked east towards the ridge and old graveyard. Siobhan and Donal filed in behind him. Maeve followed suit, but paused and looked at Finn.


    ¡°Oi, Finn.¡±


    G¡¯way, Finn thought. I¡¯m finally getting a compliment from Maeve O¡¯Connor.


    She pointed to the tears in the top layers of his gambeson.


    ¡°Something tried to take a piece out of ya,¡± she said. ¡°Looks like you owe Gavin thanks for the gear or an apology for the ingratitude¡ªlikely both.¡±


    He pulled the right side of his mouth down and nodded. It didn¡¯t feel like the time for a reminder, but she was right.


    ¡°I suppose I do.¡±


    She showed him a smile that was completely incongruous with her previous scolding and nodded before she turned to join the others.


    Close enough.

 28) Support / Assumptions

    ¡°Did we have to bring so much inside the tent?¡± Donal asked. ¡°I can¡¯t lay flat.¡±


    ¡°You could move your own things out to the wagon,¡± Niall said.


    Donal listened to the rain bouncing off the fabric above their heads. He raised his legs and rested his feet on the closest bag¡ªFinn¡¯s things, hopefully.


    The abandoned house in front of the old graveyard was more than an hour behind them when the rains returned. The others spent most of that first hour slouched forward in their respective seats. Donal caught his brother¡¯s head bobbing on several occasions. He struggled to keep his own head from leaning back onto the wagon¡¯s wall. The trip was a trudge before a single drop fell.


    Niall and Siobhan decided to press on until a suitable campsite presented itself. Any pause to even assemble the tent in the wagon was not worth the delay.


    It was Maeve who found a location far enough from the main road, under the right amount of tree cover and close enough to running water¡ªthanks to an overtopped creek bed.


    The measurement of time under leaden skies was a skill beyond Donal¡¯s grasp, but by his estimate the rain had not ceased over the past four hours. He had spent only the previous hour in his tent. The tent bottom had dried from its exposure during assembly, but Donal wondered if he¡¯d ever feel dry again.


    He and Niall had borrowed two supports from the assembly to hold up a lean-to in the wagon. It left their shelter less stable, but as long as the winds didn¡¯t change the angle of the rainfall, Maeve might avoid further soaking as she surveilled their camp.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hear the others,¡± Donal said. ¡°Have they changed watch yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. In the meantime, I hope those two are sleeping. For several reasons, actually.¡±


    Niall sighed and turned his head to Donal.


    ¡°Since you prefer me awake for some reason,¡± he said, ¡°Let me ask you a question.¡±


    ¡°Go on,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°How¡¯s your head after what happened today?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get hit in the head.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say you did,¡± Niall said. ¡°But an extended fight in limited visibility¡ªit can fray the nerves of the most hardened men.¡±


    ¡°I was a little shaky at first, but I got my legs back quickly.¡±


    ¡°What about your ¡®friend?¡¯¡±


    ¡°What friend?¡±


    ¡°That part of you that always eats at you, pokes at you, battles with you¡ªwhatever you want to call it. Did it come out?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think so,¡± Donal said. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been either riding or fighting from before dawn to well past sunset. We¡¯re road-weary, battle-weary, weighed down and chilled by rain. We don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll find tomorrow at the abbey. And in spite of all that, you¡¯d rather talk to me instead of trying to rest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re stating facts but looking at me like you asked me something,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Here are two questions, then,¡± Niall said. ¡°¡®Why don¡¯t you want to sleep?¡¯ and ¡®What are you afraid of seeing if you do sleep?¡¯¡±


    Donal looked at the tent roof.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to see horrible things to see, well, horrible things,¡± Donal said. ¡°Why are we tempting things by talking about it?¡±


    ¡°For the same reason we don¡¯t train when we¡¯re in the middle of battle,¡± Niall said. ¡°Your brother¡¯s luck today notwithstanding. Trying to control that thing when it¡¯s already got your head spinnin¡¯ doesn¡¯t seem too effective, does it?¡±


    Niall was right, but Donal chose not to say so.


    ¡°Now you choose silence?¡± Niall asked.


    Donal wasn¡¯t taking the bait.


    ¡°Have you talked to Finn about this? Siobhan?


    ¡°Maeve, actually,¡± Donal said.


    He squeezed his jaw shut once he realized that he did take the bait.


    ¡°You¡¯re joking. How did that go?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Niall let Donal¡¯s answer hang in the air.


    ¡°Grand, actually. She made me feel loads better. Except for one thing, anyway.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡±


    ¡°She seems to think that my troubles aren¡¯t connected at all to this Tuatha D¨¦ stuff.¡±


    ¡°Why is that a problem?¡± Niall asked.


    Donal worked over the word choice in his head, letting out a grunt or two to hold his place in the conversation.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big problem if the two aren¡¯t connected.¡±


    ¡°Why, though?¡±


    ¡°Because that means there¡¯s no reason for what¡¯s happening to me. If that shadow in my head has to do with the s¨ªlrad and Breaslin, then it¡¯s something we can stop. It¡¯s something that we can fix. If it¡¯s not¡­¡±


    Donal lost all interest in finding his words.


    ¡°¡­then you get your brother, your uncle, myself, even the ladies,¡± Niall said, ¡°and we help you learn to handle this when we¡¯re done. Sounds like some of us already have been. We¡¯re not going anywhere. Whatever it takes to help you find peace or balance, you¡¯re not alone. Which brings me to another topic.¡±


    Donal nodded his head.


    ¡°Finn,¡± he said.


    ¡°You can¡¯t shut him out. Not anymore. It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re shutting him out because you blame him for something or if you blame yourself and can¡¯t face it. You have to let him in. He deserves that much. You deserve that much.¡±


    Donal picked at Niall¡¯s advice from every direction. He couldn¡¯t find an angle that worked. He sighed and surrendered. For now.


    ¡°One thing¡¯s for certain: my uncle has pretty good taste in his company,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Not before he met me, he didn¡¯t,¡± Niall said.


    Donal cackled.


    ¡°Thanks, Niall.¡±


    ¡°Night, lad. Oi, wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Maeve really didn¡¯t try to take the piss out of you when you opened up to her? Not even one time?¡±


    ¡°Not about that, no. In an odd way, it was a little awful. I kept bracing for it, dreading it, but it never came.¡±


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°I¡¯d be unsettled, too. Now let an oul¡¯ man have his sleep.¡±


    ****


    The sound of his name crept into Finn¡¯s dreams.


    ¡°Finn.¡±


    ¡°Finn.¡±


    An unknown character within his dream shook his shoulder so hard he swore it was real.


    ¡°Finn!¡±


    He opened his eyes as Siobhan¡¯s shadow pulled away from his arm. She grinned.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re still awake.¡±


    Finn rubbed his eyes. The tent was nearly as dark as the inside of his eyelids.


    ¡°Right, who could possibly sleep after a day like that?¡± he asked.


    She sat upright, crossed her legs and grabbed her feet. Finn took it as a suggestion to do the same.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he said.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind, but I read your bard book after you fell asleep,¡± she said. ¡°I wanted to find the spell you used to burn the talisman and its offering pile.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± he said. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to wake me up for it. The book and all the spells within are technically Murrough¡¯s, anyway.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± she said. ¡°I skimmed through every spell in there. None of them are meant to do what you did today. How did you manage it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know for certain,¡± he said. ¡°I was desperate, of course. The the curse felt dark. Not the kind of dark that spreads in the absence of light, more like a kind dark that eats light. I needed something ancient, before the Catholics, before the Tuatha D¨¦, before most things. The air got thin, and I asked it to bring and end to the evil before me.¡±


    ¡°¡®It?¡¯¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°Who or what did you ask?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t realize I asked someone or something specific until I retold the story to you.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like you tapped into Mag Sen,¡± she said. ¡°The ancient plane.¡±


    ¡°Is that good? Is ancient good or bad?¡±


    ¡°A plane isn¡¯t ¡®better¡¯ or ¡®worse¡¯ than any other. They are all different.¡±


    Finn¡¯s stomach twisted at a realization.


    ¡°I tapped a new plane without you watching! Without being at a stone circle¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªFinn¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªIt was even a sustained spell¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªFinn, would you¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªThat could have been disastrous!¡±


    Siobhan once again took hold of Finn¡¯s shoulder and shook him.


    ¡°Oi!¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, it could have gone horribly, but it didn¡¯t. The fact that your first thought just now wasn¡¯t about self-aggrandizing, but the spell¡¯s potential dangers, shows me that your head¡¯s in a good place. And why wouldn¡¯t it be? Your teacher is pure class.¡±


    Her mouth settled into a warm, easy smile that glinted what little light breached into the unlit tent.


    ¡°She is quality,¡± he said.


    The tiny reflections in her eyes disappeared and her shadow drew closer. He felt her breath on his face and he pulled away.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m sure they can¡¯t hear us over the rain.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just¡­ I fancy you.¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯m truly confused,¡± she said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it before. I didn¡¯t realize how much.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s bad?¡±


    ¡°It will be,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯m not dumb, Siobhan. You¡¯re mother¡¯s a shrewd woman. Your dad¡¯s kin are ambitious. That alone makes you a smart match for any clan with notions.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got every bit your mother¡¯s mind,¡± he said. ¡°And her heart. Don¡¯t deny it. She¡¯s had enough cause to send us packing at any point over the past two years¡ªeven before the blight. She won¡¯t admit it, but there was one thing keeping us in our home: your mam¡¯s good graces.¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s smile widened. The reflections in her eyes brightened.


    ¡°Perhaps there were two things,¡± he said.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    He took her hands in his.


    ¡°See! That¡¯s it, isn¡¯t it? And look at the way you and Murrough eased me into this whole mess in spite of myself. The way you¡¯ve kept my brother¡¯s spirits up. I know what I said a few days ago, and I was an arse for saying it. I realize now that the Treasach I knew wasn¡¯t the man he truly was. The way you rally people and build them up is out in front, not subtle like your mam. That¡¯s who your father was. Am I right?¡±


    Siobhan nodded.


    ¡°And look at ya,¡± he said. ¡°After full day of fighting and riding, you¡¯re as soggy as a sail left unfurled in a storm, and still..."


    He waved his free hand in several directions.


    "''Still,'' what?" Siobhan asked.


    "Oh, you know yourself that you''re beautiful."


    She chuckled.


    "Never hurts to hear it," she said. "Even when the messages I''m getting are this mixed. Are you getting to a point?"


    "My point is, you¡¯ll marry some O¡¯Neill or O¡¯Connor and your kids might go off and rule the northern half of the island. And it won¡¯t matter if I¡¯m still on my farm or in a monastery. I already know it¡¯s going hurt. I¡¯ve got to try and protect myself while it only hurts a little. I¡¯m sorry, Siobhan. I really am.¡±


    He patted her hand and let go. He wanted to run out and take over for Maeve early. If the skies were dry he would have. Instead he slid down and turned away from Siobhan.


    She didn¡¯t say a word or shift her body. She sniffed and let out a sigh from her chest.


    ¡°Absolutely no sense to you at all,¡± she said with a clearing of her throat. ¡°I could take you to the top of Errigal, and you would tell me every type of tree in the forest. You¡¯d tell me the name of every river that flowed below us. You¡¯d point to a lake and tell me what fish swam in it. You¡¯d point to these things, and you¡¯d tell me something about each place that you knew I liked.¡±


    ¡°And if I asked you what you liked about these places, you¡¯d struggle for an answer because it never dawned on you to have one.¡±


    Finn turned up his head but kept his back to her.


    ¡°What is all this talk about marriage¡ªand at a time like this?¡± she asked. ¡°I mean this as nicely as possible, but you have no cause to be giving my future husband and children more consideration than I have myself. I¡¯m old enough to be married off for allegiances if that¡¯s what I wanted or even consented to. But I don''t¡ªand it¡¯s not what my mother wants, either.¡±


    ¡°Saerlaith mentioned your conversation at the feast. After the way my granddad and uncle treated my parents¡ªeven the way they treat Faelan now¡ªwhy would my mam care what they thought about my future? You¡¯re worried about politics when we¡¯re fighting headless demons and shape-shifting creatures. Who asked for your opinion on any of it?¡±


    Finn sat up to face her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Siobhan, I was¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªStill my turn. I know exactly what Mam¡¯s and Murrough¡¯s plans are for me. Between you and I, I¡¯m still unsure about it at times. But it¡¯s still loads better than having my counsel humored on ceremony for the rest of my life like my grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s you. The state of you! You¡¯ve had one goal your entire life: lock yourself away in a monastery and spend your time learning everything about everything.¡±


    Finn raised his hand.


    ¡°That¡¯s not entirely¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªFinn, if you stop me from getting this out one more time I¡¯m going to take that leine you¡¯re wearing and cram the entire thing down your bake. Then I¡¯m walking out of this tent and taking your next shift on watch for myself.¡±


    Finn put one hand over his mouth and held up the other hand in appeasement.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said.


    ¡°You lost both your parents, and it took less than a week for you put your life¡¯s goal aside to care for your brother. We weren¡¯t close before it happened, but Murrough talked constantly about you two to my mother. I know how hard Donal struggled even before your parents died.¡±


    ¡°You talk about my mam, but you¡¯ve had every opportunity over the past two years to go to Murrough and say, ¡®I¡¯m sorry, all this is beyond me,¡¯ and leave your brother with an uncle that loves him. Lesser men would have done that, but you never considered it. Not really. You chose to stay, and I¡¯m glad for it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, part of me feels horrible for what I¡¯m about to say because it was your life¡¯s goal and the past three years have been so hard for you. But I can¡¯t deny that I¡¯m happy you¡¯re out here in the world. I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re here right now.¡±


    Siobhan exhaled and patted her legs. Finn suspected she was out of words. She stared at him for a moment and then squirmed.


    ¡°Well?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sorry, I was afraid of eating my shirt.¡±


    ¡°MacLaughlin, I swear¡ª¡±


    Finn grabbed her hand.


    ¡°What of the next time we visit Doe Castle? Will you feel compelled to make excuses for having me on your arm?¡±


    She laughed and leaned closer to him.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already been to one of my family gatherings, remember?¡± she said. ¡°You were charming, handsome and you went the whole time without punching Uncle Lorcan in his gob even once.¡±


    ¡°Only because he left early.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s more than some in my family can say.¡±


    Finn narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Brotherly row?¡±


    ¡°It was my mother! I was only twelve years old, but even then I enjoyed seeing it happen.¡±


    Finn relaxed his spine and chuckled. He raised his hand to her cheek and studied what little he could see of her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Finn said. ¡°I presumed too much and let it get in my way.¡±


    ¡°¡®In our way,¡¯ is more like it,¡± she said.


    Finn nodded.


    ¡°Here¡¯s to getting hurt someday, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Or not,¡± Siobhan said.


    She leaned over and kissed him. Finn¡¯s grasp of time left him. Everything around him¡ªthe raindrops, the wind buffeting their shelter, their movements within the tent¡ªhad slowed, yet he felt the moment slipping away too quickly. Perhaps he heard Maeve¡¯s footsteps approaching the entry flap of the tent.


    A gust of wind blew through the tent, and it carried countless heavy, cold raindrops with it. Finn and Siobhan looked to the entrance and found Maeve failing to keep a straight face.


    ¡°Your turn, Finn,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I trust you¡¯ve gotten enough sleep for it?¡±


    Siobhan leaned back to let Finn sit up.


    ¡°Plenty,¡± Finn said.


    He held Siobhan¡¯s hand one last time and the pair exchanged smiles. He leaned forward and brought himself up to a stoop and stepped out of the tent. Maeve grabbed his arm, the force and quickness of the pull almost toppling him into the mud.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ve found this to be a whirlwind adventure, full of fun and excitement,¡± she said. ¡°But this isn¡¯t a sightseeing trip. Whatever is waiting for us tomorrow, we can¡¯t afford for you to be distracted and making puppy eyes at Siobhan.¡±


    ¡°If you put us at risk because you¡¯re trying to impress her or if you try to protect her from something she is capable of handling herself, you and I are going to have problems. You two being close now doesn¡¯t render her incapable of doing the things she¡¯s always done.¡±


    Finn heard her words, but his spirits were too high for them to have the usual effect.


    ¡°I thought you already had problems with me.¡±


    She wrinkled her nose and drew one side of her mouth up into a sneer.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯ve thought?¡± Maeve said. ¡°Outside of an isolated issue of ingratitude, I haven¡¯t had much issue with you, actually. You can imagine, though, what it¡¯s going to look like when you and I do have problems.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got nothing to worry about,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Says you. G¡¯night.¡±


    Maeve started to lay into Siobhan as Finn walked toward the lean-to in the wagon.


    ¡°And as for yourself¡­¡±


    Finn found the rain cold and miserable but he was grateful that its noise would muffle the rest of that conversation.

 29) The abbey

    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wondering about,¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Just one thing?¡± Niall asked.


    Donal shook his head. He never expected to have so much competition for being the least mature member of the group.


    ¡°You can keep one of the Four Treasures in a box by your bed, yet this cauldron has to be in some abbey hidden between all these mountains.¡±


    Donal¡¯s eyes followed the southern edge of Loughaskerry Mountain as the slope crossed their road and ran down to Lough Akkibon. Akkibon and Lough Gartan sprawled across a valley ringed by mountains. He¡¯d forgive anyone within the valley for thinking they were walled off from the world.


    ¡°What I have is part of the Lia F¨¢il,¡± Niall said. ¡°The rest of it is sitting out in the open down in Meath. The cauldron has the power to bring much more good¡ªor harm¡ªupon the world.¡±


    ¡°So they put it on a shelf in a random abbey.¡±


    His brother closed his book he was reading in the back and looked up at Donal in the front seat. Donal hooked him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®a random abbey,¡¯¡± Finn said. ¡°It¡¯s named after St. Colmcille, and he was born in this valley.¡±


    ¡°Did he build it?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d been dead several centuries by the time it was built,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°And they named it after him.¡±


    ¡°Being a patron saint of Ireland has its perks,¡± Niall said with a nod to Finn.


    ¡°I thought that was Padraig.¡±


    Donal leaned over to Siobhan and softly nudged her with his elbow and winked. Siobhan pursed her lips and hid her face from Finn.


    ¡°I thought that even you would know¡ª¡±


    Finn paused. Donal wasn¡¯t subtle enough, apparently.


    ¡°You do know it, you little melter!¡±


    ¡°I get no thanks for keeping your historical mind sharp?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°When you least expect it, you will.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, though, where¡¯s yer man buried?¡±


    ¡°Scotland,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°One of the patron saints of Ireland is buried in Scotland?¡±


    ¡°He was exiled.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°He had a quarrel with another monk and it¡ª¡±


    Finn looked at his brother and circled his hands, his mouth held open. Donal had seen this look often when he was younger. His brother was about to dumb down a story for ¡®the common folk.¡¯


    ¡°He sneaked the other monk¡¯s book and copied it,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°And they kicked him out for that?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Many people died over it,¡± Finn said.


    Donal scoffed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they did,¡± Donal said. ¡°Stop trying to get one over on me, you¡¯re bad at it.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, though,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°It led to a big battle down near Sligo town.¡±


    ¡°If we¡¯re done with this nonsense¡ªand we are,¡± Maeve said, ¡°we¡¯re coming up on the abbey.¡±


    Donal looked ahead of Maeve and Niall and understood why a person would want to stash something important here. The countryside rolled from behind them and along their entire left-hand field of view. Miles of tree-topped hills crossed the horizon ahead of them and ducked behind the nearby woods on their right. Between the hill peaks several faint layers of smaller hilltops offered hope that this view extended indefinitely.


    Most of the groves ended halfway down the slopes, cleared in favor of bright green grazing fields that surrounded two separate groups of houses. Aside from sporadic brown spots, these fields endured the blight better than the growing fields.


    The full length of Lough Gartan was now visible at the far edge of the valley. Lough Nacally emerged for the first time in the middle distance above the trees between it and the group. The late-morning sun glinted off of all three lakes at the valley bottom.


    If Donal ever had something worth hiding, he would hide it here and check on it regularly.


    ¡°Where?¡± Donal asked.


    Maeve pointed to the right.


    ¡°Up there,¡± Maeve said.


    He turned his head up the hill and followed the direction of Maeve¡¯s extended finger, past a grazing field. A forest of aspen, birch and pine rose from a hill eighty yards away. The row of trees was dense and unbroken, save for a small clearing with a stone structure and the road that led to it.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Grand. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just rush in, lad,¡± Niall said. ¡°That¡¯s a small window through the woods. We don¡¯t know if they¡¯re up there.¡±


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Siobhan stuck her hand in front of Donal and pointed to the side road.


    ¡°Look at that slope,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re not getting the wagon up that¡ªespecially not after a rain like yesterday¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re waiting for them here?¡± Donal said. ¡°Seems a bit far to catch them.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not waiting,¡± Niall said. ¡°We¡¯re going in¡ªwith care. Keep it slow, everyone, to hear above the wagon wheels.¡±


    The turn neared and with it came good news.


    ¡°This road curves up the slope,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°It won¡¯t be a straight climb. We can bring the horses off the main road and keep them closer.¡±


    They followed the road as it turned to the left just past a stone well ten feet in diameter. Niall, Maeve and Siobhan all twisted their necks to look down inside it as they rounded the corner. Donal looked down the well and saw nothing of note.


    The road turned right at the top of the hill, pointing the party toward the abbey and the graveyard that surrounded it. Donal shifted to leave the wagon but held fast once he noticed nobody else dismounted.


    ¡°Hear that?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t,¡± said Donal.


    ¡°That¡¯s a problem,¡± she said. ¡°No birds, no animals. Something¡¯s off.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Niall said. ¡°Let¡¯s tie up here at the tree line, out of view from the road. We¡¯ll put on all our gear and go in.¡±


    Donal slipped his hauberk over his head and arms and reattached his mantle. He grunted as he struggled with the extra straps meant to secure his new spaulder. Siobhan patted his shoulder and secured his straps. Once satisfied, she reached behind her back and handed Donal her mother¡¯s golden knife.


    ¡°Just in case,¡± she said. ¡°You did me proud with it last time.¡±


    She held his gaze until he smiled. With a last pat on his spaulder she turned and walked over to Niall.


    Finn flipped his chin to the abbey. It was wide enough for a window on each side of the front door and its sides were twice as long.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look so foreboding,¡± Finn said.


    Donal held up the knife.


    ¡°Neither did I to the dullahan,¡± he said. ¡°And we know what happened to him.¡±


    Finn bumped him with his arm and laughed.


    ¡°His opponent ran and forced someone else to retrieve this knife?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, but I¡¯m sure he felt it in the morning.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he did. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Donal followed Finn down the narrow path through the graveyard.


    ¡°Oi! Where are you two eejits going?¡± Maeve asked.


    Niall and Siobhan walked back down the side road ahead of Maeve.


    ¡°To the abbey,¡± Finn said. ¡°To check on the cauldron.¡±


    ¡°The cauldron isn¡¯t inside the abbey,¡± Maeve said. ¡°It¡¯s this way.¡±


    The brothers reversed course and exited the graveyard. Finn leaned into Donal.


    ¡°Am I going mad?¡± he asked. ¡°All this time I thought we were coming to the abbey to check on the cauldron. That was the whole plan, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re no madder than I,¡± Donal said. ¡°For once, anyway. I don¡¯t know where they¡¯re going.¡±


    Donal reached the end of the side road and saw Niall, Siobhan and Maeve staring into the well at the corner. He backhanded his brother¡¯s ribs.


    ¡°That¡¯s how we¡¯re getting to the cauldron,¡± Donal said. ¡°That¡¯s why the three of ¡®em were staring so hard at the well on our way up. I¡¯m not sure how leaving the cauldron at the bottom of a manky well for centuries is any better a place than an abbey.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s at the bottom,¡± Finn said.


    The brothers filled in the empty spaces around the well. Siobhan were fixed on the well¡¯s bottom. Niall and Maeve scanned the landscape around them.


    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s washout isn¡¯t doing me any favors,¡± Maeve said, ¡°but I see no recent footprints, no wheel treads, no sign that anyone¡¯s been here in the past few days.¡±


    ¡°How are we getting down?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°We climb, of course,¡± Maeve said.


    She pointed to the northern side of the well¡¯s interior. Donal missed it at first, but the pattern revealed itself as his eyes drifted downward. Empty pockets within the wall formed two vertical lines of handholds. A large hole in the northwest wall opened just above the water¡¯s surface.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re in luck,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°The rains did not flood the chamber entrance.¡±


    ¡°Those holes aren¡¯t big enough for my hands, let alone my brogues,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°You can wait up here and give our regards to Breaslin¡¯s people when they arrive,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°I¡¯m just pointing it out,¡± Donal said. ¡°How deep is this thing, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Deep enough. Don¡¯t fall in with that chainmail,¡± Maeve said.


    Niall climbed onto the wall and faced away from the center. He stooped and straightened his right leg behind him and lowered it until his toe found one of the holes in the wall. He climbed down the wall until his feet were in the first set of holes below the water¡¯s surface. The path ended within arm¡¯s reach of the hole.


    He extended his left arm into the hole and jerked himself sideways, landing in the base of the hole with a splash.


    ¡°There¡¯s still water flowing from the chambers up ahead,¡± Niall yelled over the sound of running water. ¡°It won¡¯t be enough to submerge the entrance. Boys, you¡¯re next.¡±


    Donal followed Niall¡¯s lead and climbed into the well. Once his feet were submerged he slid his left arm out until he could grab hold of the broken wall. He pushed with his right foot but did not transfer enough weight in the jump. His left foot slipped off the bottom of the hole and he tilted backwards when his feet landed. Niall grabbed Donal¡¯s hand and righted him before he could fall into the water.


    ¡°Next,¡± Niall yelled.


    As Finn¡¯s footholds echoed throughout the well, Donal turned his back to the well and to examine the opening. The stones across the top sagged in the middle, its sides were asymmetrical and jagged. This hole was created after the well was built.


    Donal¡¯s eyes adjusted to the darkened space ahead of him. Five steps, each carved from the stone and nearly as high as his knee, ascended toward a narrow passage. The running water he had heard from above flowed from the passage, a thin layer that cascaded down the steps until it met the water just below the top of the first step.


    Finn landed behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°We should move up and make some room,¡± he said.


    The pair ascended to the highest step. No light was visible. Only their echoes provided any clue to the length.


    ¡°O¨ªbell,¡± Siobhan said.


    From behind them an orange glow outlined the entrance to the passage.


    ¡°Allow me, fellas,¡± she said.


    She pushed between them and crouched under the low ceiling. A tongue of flame hovered over her outstretched hand. Maeve followed her, her silhouette blotting out most of the flame¡¯s light.


    ¡°Crack on, lads,¡± Niall said.


    Donal dropped his head and followed Maeve. The floor was smooth but not flawless. After a few paces his foot caught on and uneven slab. He fell forward into Maeve and reflexively tried to stand upright, banging his head in the process.


    ¡°Next time that happens, it¡¯ll cost ya,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I reckon you don¡¯t need all ten toes to fight with a spear.¡±


    Donal rubbed the top of his head.


    ¡°Oi! It¡¯s not like I planned it,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Can we move this along?¡± Niall asked.


    The passage opened up into a corridor after twenty feet of crouching. Not only could they stand, they could walk in rows of two.


    ¡°Should someone count paces?¡± Finn.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need yet,¡± Niall said. ¡°Unless we¡¯re here past sunset, we¡¯ve got the light from well to lead us back. We¡¯ll talk once the layout changes.¡±


    Donal liked Finn¡¯s idea and decided to count paces to himself. Unfortunately, he lost count several times, never exceeding 30 counted paces. His best guess by the end was that the corridor was two hundred feet in total length.


    ¡°This must be the main chamber,¡± Siobhan said.


    She searched the closest wall for a torch as the rest of the group filed into the room behind her. She found a torch near the left corner and handed it to Finn. The chamber was 45 feet wide by 35 feet deep. In each corner a concave stack of stone supported the ceiling. Each of the three walls before them had a small doorway. The floor was generally damp, but it appeared that the headwaters of the corridor river were through the doorway on the right. Donal couldn¡¯t tell if it was a trick of the light bouncing off the condensation of the wall, but a faint glow emanated from the doorway as well.


    ¡°You all feel that, right?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°Feel what? Finn asked.


    ¡°Sure feels like we¡¯re being watched,¡± she said.-

 30) The cauldron

    ¡°The cauldron is in the chamber ahead,¡± Niall said. ¡°For Maeve¡¯s consolation, two of you should glance into the side rooms.¡±


    Donal walked to the room on the left and poked his head through the door. The room was ten feet wide by fifteen feet long and had writing desks set up against each wall. He pushed further into the room. All of the desks were in various states of disrepair. A sound of something sliding across the stone floor kept Donal from leaving. Within seconds a rat scurried past his feet. He chuckled and stepped back into the main chambers.


    Finn emerged from the other side room.


    ¡°Anything?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Just a rat,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Rat beats mold,¡± Finn said. ¡°You win.¡±


    ¡°Did either you see any sign that someone had been here lately?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s dark, and I¡¯m not Maeve,¡± Donal said, ¡°but no, I didn¡¯t see any signs of that.¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve come all this way,¡± Niall said. ¡°Let¡¯s check on the cauldron.¡±


    Siobhan was in the next room before Niall could finish the sentence. This room was smaller and had two side rooms of its own, though one of them had caved in. The rest of the group followed and stood in a line five feet in front of it.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Dya¡¯mean by that?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°You¡¯re looking at bleedin¡¯ cauldron of The Dagda himself.¡±


    The cauldron was saddle brown and stood three feet tall. It spread to a width of four feet and narrowed before the rim around its three-foot opening, encircled by a simple knotted pattern. Two large rings attached to opposite sides of the rim. It was large but not the ornate beacon of the Otherworlds that he expected.


    ¡°Are we going to do something with it, or is the plan just to gawk at it?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°I can¡¯t shake the feeling that we¡¯re being watched somehow.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re perceptive, hunter, I¡¯ll grant you that,¡± a voice called from their right.


    ¡°I hate being right,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°You know you don¡¯t,¡± Siobhan muttered.


    A slender man in a muted violet cloak stepped out of the darkened side room and into the torchlight. He stepped to the side, allowing room for the archer to enter with an arrow knocked and aimed at Maeve.


    ¡°You,¡± Donal said.


    Finn wrinkled his face and nudged his brother.


    ¡°Is this the creepy one from¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªThe road north of Cashelmore,¡± Donal said. ¡°With the weird green eyes.¡±


    ¡°I remember you as well, boy,¡± the man said. ¡°Though, I must admit my surprise. I knew there were s¨ªlrad moving against our plans, but I did not suspect it was you lot that posed any legitimate challenge to us. Had I known who you were up north I might have introduced myself properly.¡±


    Green Eyes glanced at his archer and chuckled. The laughter was not shared by his associate. Donal squinted his eyes at the pallid blue face under the spangenhelm and found eyes that glowed with the color of sickly wheat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what: if green eyes are not to your liking, perhaps you¡¯d prefer a different shade?¡±


    Green Eyes pushed his hand toward the doorway to the main chamber behind them.


    ¡°Foillsigid.¡±


    His eyes cooled to a dull lavender. A purple glow reflected off the side walls and faded before the group could turn around, but not before Donal realized that it wasn¡¯t a rat he had heard in the side room.


    Footsteps slid across the stone floor of the main room from its sides. Three undead archers stood in the far back, almost inside the entry corridor, their arrows trained on Donal and Niall. Four undead spearmen took positions on either side of the door, joined by several more soldiers just out of Donal¡¯s eyeline, judging by the metal clangs that echoed off the stone walls. Straight ahead, far beyond the archers, footsteps marched in unison toward them.


    ¡°You¡¯re Breaslin, then?¡± Niall asked.


    Green Eyes let out a shrill, hollow cackle.


    ¡°Consider me your host,¡± he said. ¡°Truthfully, my friends here are your hosts. You¡¯re standing under their graves, after all. That makes me more of an officiant.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe how little I care about your semantics,¡± Niall said. ¡°Why are you here instead of Breaslin?¡±


    ¡°Do not worry, MacRannell, I am here as well.¡±


    The voice was smooth and cold, like a frozen bay head in January. A tall man glided out of the entry corridor toward the a far right corner of the main chamber, putting himself in clear view of Niall¡ªand obscured from Maeve¡¯s eyeline.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The three men that accompanied Green Eyes near Cashelmore followed Breaslin into the room and stood next to the spearmen, out of their archers¡¯ line of fire.


    Breaslin sneered from the corner. His pale blue eyes needed no magic to pierce the darkness between the rooms. His jawline was too sharp for any beard to conceal, let alone his manicured scruff. His mantle was pure black, a shadow itself of the pale violet cloaks of his companions. His black walking stick stood navel high, topped by the head of a horned lion. Donal was too far to verify but he had little doubt its head was made of solid gold and not leafed in it.


    ¡°So these are my overachievers,¡± he said. ¡°You eluded a dullahan, dispatched an ¨¢vertach and defeated a small army of sluagh. I have to admit, druid, that I thought you incapable of undoing that curse.¡±


    Siobhan shifted in her spot and did not speak. Breaslin¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°But it wasn¡¯t you, was it?¡± he asked. ¡°It was the bard! An aspiring one, at that.¡±


    Finn¡¯s hand began to move, an eighth of an inch at a time, up to his hip. He looked at Maeve and glanced at the doorway. She shook her head. Finn caught Siobhan¡¯s eyes and tilted his head by less than an inch in the direction of the sorcerer. She dipped her chin almost as slowly. Finn¡¯s eyes returned to Breaslin, his hand still creeping upward.


    ¡°Everyone gets lucky once in a while,¡± the sorcerer said.


    ¡°So it would seem,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°Sadly, luck can only bring you so far. Yours brought you here to me, and here is where it runs out.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Finn said. ¡°My brother and I have had several years of bad luck. I feel like we¡¯re due more than a few days of hard-won fortune.¡±


    Breaslin pulled his head back and smirked. Finn¡¯s hand was now at his waist, bent at the wrist and trembling. He twisted his torso to conceal it from view. A wave of nausea swept over Donal. The air between the brothers felt all wrong.


    ¡°Do you, now? I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ll find out it doesn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°T¨®rann nerto!¡± Finn yelled.


    The thunderous wave knocked centuries of dust from the stone walls as it passed through the doorway toward the archers and Breaslin. The sensation of nausea had left Donal at once, leaving behind a faint taste of metal.


    ¡°Donal!¡± Siobhan yelled.


    Donal dropped to the floor at the sight of Siobhan¡¯s arm moving backwards.


    ¡°T¨®rann!¡±


    The floor vibrated when Dother and his archer hit the ground.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, lad!¡± Niall said to Donal. ¡°Don¡¯t think, just push into the left side. Finn, you¡¯re behind me. Both of you, do your own archer a favor and stay out of the doorway.¡±


    Donal pushed himself up and scrambled after Niall and Finn. His skin warmed.


    ¡°Linn lathach,¡± Siobhan said.


    The floor beneath Dother and the archer liquefied at her command. Maeve had an arrow knocked and pointed above her comrades in the doorway, waiting for a clear target.


    ¡°Fr¨¦m for¨¢sa.¡±


    The sound of rubbing branches followed him out the doorway. Siobhan was restraining them.


    Finn followed Niall to the right side, offering Donal his best view of the battle yet. All of the undead archers and spearmen lied motionless. Breaslin¡¯s three human allies climbed to their feet. The largest one did not regain his footing before Niall started swinging his sword and mace at him.


    Finn switched Fragarach to his right and engaged the other human on the right side.


    Breaslin seemed unaffected by the concussive wave. The head of his staff emitted a soft light as he circled his left hand and staff around each other. The eyes of the undead regained their sickly wheat glow and slowly pushed themselves up to their feet. Siobhan¡¯s incapacitation of Dother did as much to clear the main room as Finn¡¯s thunderous attack.


    The first of Maeve¡¯s arrows whistled out of the cauldron room, striking one of the undead archers in its skull. The color faded from its eyes once more.


    Donal struck his foe¡¯s hands with the back end of his spear and shoved him backwards. He side-stepped a desperate lunge and brought his spear shaft down upon the man¡¯s arm, knocking his sword to the ground.


    Donal hooked the back his opponent¡¯s leg and toppled the man to the floor. He pointed the spear and held it close to the mans face.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, boy?¡± Breaslin said, his hands still rotating. ¡°Can¡¯t do what¡¯s necessary?¡±


    Breaslin¡¯s defeated colleague twisted his neck to face him.


    ¡°¨¦amon, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Judging the both of you.¡±


    Breaslin¡¯s attention returned to the undead minions he was attempting to reanimate. The henchmen looked back at Donal, his eyes wide and glassy. Neither said a word. Donal¡¯s hands quivered as he struggled to resist Breaslin¡¯s goading.


    One of the undead spearmen hissed at Donal from behind. His time was up. He spun the spear around and knocked the man unconscious before turning his attention to the creatures rousing around him.


    ¡°Move up, ladies,¡± Niall said. ¡°Siobhan, grab the cauldron.¡±


    Maeve entered the room after dropping the third archer. Breaslin raised his staff upon seeing Maeve take aim and her arrow bounced off a purple circle centered on the head of the staff.


    ¡°You¡¯ll need more than silver-tipped arrows to get to me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Got it!¡± yelled Siobhan from the other room.


    She cleared the doorway holding the cauldron by both handles. A shrill voice called from behind.


    ¡°Guirid idlann.¡±


    Dother had freed one of his arms. The air popped and sizzled. A bright flash appeared behind Siobhan¡¯s left shoulder. She cried out as the spell knocked her forward off her feet and onto her left side. The cauldron rolled three feet away from her before righting itself.


    Finn yelled Siobhan''s name and moved the sword to his left hand. His eyes glowed blue as he knocked minions over with wind and thunder. He had broken away from the other human swordsman too quickly, however, and his foe caught up to him before he realized it. Finn would not be able to block the man¡¯s next attack. Only an arrow from Maeve placed in the man¡¯s right shoulder prevented Finn from paying the price for his mistake.


    Niall¡¯s battle with the brute continued. He parried and dodged whatever the man brought to him, but his opponent barely flinched from the blows Niall landed. It was Finn who finally knocked the brute off his feet with a well-placed thunderclap. The soldier struck his head against the wall behind him.


    ¡°That may not hold him long,¡± Niall said. ¡°But maybe we can go after yer man in the meantime.¡±


    Donal defeated his fifth minion and looked back at Siobhan. She clutched her left shoulder and muttered something. Her hand glowed green and then stopped. Her spell didn¡¯t appear to alleviate her pain, but Maeve had helped her up to a hunched position.


    ¡°Gaibid!¡± Breaslin yelled.


    A faint purple yellow wave spread from Breaslin. A shiver traveled up Donal¡¯s spine as the wave hit him. The sensation of an unseen fist squeezing him spread across his body. It halted his attack, and a look toward Finn and Niall indicated they felt the same effects. After a few moments, however, normal feeling had returned to his extremities and Donal readied his spear for another round of battle.


    ¡°I would not advise that,¡± Dother said.


    He stepped into the main room, his clothing and mantle covered in mud and fragments of branches.


    ¡°You left an archer alone, and now he¡¯s taken aim on your friends,¡± he said. ¡°From that distance he could put a single arrow through both of them before you can twitch.¡±


    Dother passed Maeve and Siobhan and picked up the cauldron. He stepped toward Breaslin with the casualness of a man strolling down a city street. He handed it to his master and stepped to the side.


    ¡°All that pain and effort for this,¡± Breaslin said.


    Breaslin raised the cauldron over his head and slammed it to the ground.

 31) Saboteur

    Donal stared at the remnants of the Good God¡¯s favorite possession, too stunned to say anything.


    ¡°What have you done?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Something I¡¯ve wanted to do for months,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°That thing was an eyesore. I hated it.¡±


    ¡°It was the cauldron of The Dagda!¡± Finn yelled.


    ¡°That was not The Dagda¡¯s cauldron,¡± Breaslin said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play coy,¡± Niall said. ¡°You know perfectly well what it was and why it was here.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°It is a replica of the Cauldron put here to make you S¨ªlrad D¨¦ithe believe it was safe¡ªmaybe even lure you into a trap someday.¡±


    He flourished both hands out to his side.


    ¡°Even as a poor forgery, it certain accomplished both jobs.¡±


    Breaslin measured the expressions of his five captives.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m flattered that you thought I possessed enough magic on my own to create an island-wide blight,¡± he said. ¡°But we¡¯ve been working studiously with it since we stole it those months ago.¡±


    ¡°Then why all this?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that needed¡ªor deserved¡ªan explanation. Look around you and the question answers itself. We just needed to know when you were about to move on the cauldron, and we got that answer a few days ago.¡±


    He pointed to Siobhan.


    ¡°From her own father¡¯s kin.¡±


    ¡°Lorcan,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°The man can¡¯t help from being underhanded, it would seem,¡± Finn said.


    Breaslin laughed and started to pace the room¡ªa performance no one in the group requested.


    ¡°Lorcan? The man wanted nothing to do with me,¡± he said. ¡°Worse yet, he wanted for little; I didn¡¯t have the leverage to turn him. The one you should be mad at is Faelan.¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± Siobhan yelled.


    Breaslin brought up a hand to cover his wicked grin.


    ¡°Your petty familial squabbles are too small a scale for my concern,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°I have no reason to lie for one brother over another. What I do have is a shared grief with Faelan. One I doubt any of you could understand.¡±


    He walked past Maeve and Siobhan.


    ¡°None of you have been driven from land that has been rightfully yours. Ms. O¡¯Connor¡¯s kin ran. You MacLaughlin boys still have your home for no other reason than a widow¡¯s pity.¡±


    He turned into Finn.


    ¡°In spite of your current status, my family knew your people. Some of our branches intertwined. But when the MacSweeneys drove us out of F¨¢naid¡ªout of Ulster, really¡ªthe MacLaughlins couldn¡¯t bothered to help.¡±


    ¡°But Faelan understands that some injustices cannot be solved by English law or Brehon law,¡± he said. ¡°Sometimes one must take more drastic measures to set things right.¡±


    ¡°Even if he needed an extra push to see things our way,¡± Dother said.


    Green light pulsed in his irises as he bared his teeth with a sneering smile.


    ¡°Oi! Finn!¡± Donal hissed. ¡°Did you see that?¡±


    Donal glanced at his captor. Breaslin had stopped pacing, He glared at Dother until the sorcerer¡¯s smile and eyes faded.


    ¡°His eyes glowed.¡± Finn whispered. ¡°What of it?¡±


    Breaslin regained his line of thought with a blink and caught Finn¡¯s whispers, following is eyeline back towards Donal. He strode over to Donal and placed a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Planning another burst of heroics?¡± Breaslin asked. ¡°Faelan warned me of your temper when we met last in Creeslough. As if months of success could be derailed by a temper tantrum.¡±


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Donal¡¯s field of vision narrowed. All he could see was Breaslin¡¯s face at it leaned within a foot of his. That self-satisfied sneer, that arrogant gleam in his eyes. Donal felt he could end this whole business with one punch.


    A bead of sweat formed at the top of Breaslin¡¯s hairline. He dabbed it and leaned back.


    ¡°You certainly heat up a room,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°But I promise you: any further heroic outbursts will end poorly for you all. I am capable of far worse torture than a little gloating.¡±


    Donal jerked his body toward Breaslin but held his place. Dother jumped at the movement but his master did not flinch.


    ¡°Good boy,¡± Breaslin said.


    He tilted his head toward Maeve and Siobhan.


    ¡°Their immediate fate is in your hands, after all.¡±


    Breaslin turned back toward Finn and Niall.


    Donal looked at Siobhan. Her right hand no longer clutched the wounded shoulder. She had slipped it down to her her waist and tapped her hip. She mouthed the word ¡°knife,¡± keeping her teeth on her lip for an extra second to emphasize the ¡°f.¡±


    Donal squished his face at her before remembering that she had given him her mother¡¯s golden knife once again. Donal looked up at the archer. Its lifeless focus never wavered from its target. His eyes returned Siobhan. He furrowed his brow and shook his head.


    ¡°Now I have to determine how much use you will be to me before the end,¡± Breaslin said to Niall. ¡°You five and McMenamin are not the only descendants of the Tuatha D¨¦ running around Ulster and Connaught trying to stop me. I would take it as a kindness if you could set up some introductions with other S¨ªlrad D¨¦ithe and any of their sympathetic lords and petty kings.¡±


    Donal appealed to Maeve, but she merely nodded with Siobhan in encouragement. Her eyes darted in the archer¡¯s direction and back to him. She closed her eyes and raised her head as if something pleasant wafted past her, then lowered her head and opened her eyes, sliding them in the archer¡¯s direction once more. She dipped her head and seemingly searched his face for an understanding look.


    ¡°You have to know what my answer is, ¨¦amon,¡± Niall said. ¡°And it isn¡¯t polite.¡±


    Siobhan and Maeve couldn¡¯t have known what they were asking of him. The bowstring would slip from the archer¡¯s hand with the slightest thought from Dother. Donal had to unsheathe, aim and hit his target before the sorcerer could process and react to what happened.


    ¡°I know your initial answer, of course,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°But time wanes. I need to get back to the real cauldron in time for Crom Dubh¡¯s Sunday, and if you won¡¯t help me, I¡¯ll end you all here rather than have you weigh down my return.¡±


    Donal considered the possible places where a thrown attack could prevent the arrow from firing. The skull was an obvious target, but the archer¡¯s hand would relax as it collapsed¡ªno chance of missing both of them from that range. The torso was a bigger target, but he¡¯d have to generate much more force to knock the body far enough off target. Any additional focus he put on power would be taken from accuracy. There was one point that, if struck, would ensure that the arrow would miss the ladies but it was the smallest target of the three.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move things along, shall we?¡± Breaslin asked.


    Breaslin produced a knife of his own from under his cloak and held it near Finn¡¯s throat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start with the boys, then move on to the druid. This is ending here, it¡¯s only a matter of how many of you come back to Kilmacrennan with me.¡±


    Siobhan¡¯s brows raised and her eyes widened. She nudged Maeve several times, but Maeve did not understand why.


    Donal rested the end of his spear on the ground behind him with his left hand high. He removed his right hand from the lower part of the handle. Breaslin had his back to him. He hoped of fooling Dother into assuming both of his hands were occupied. He slid his hand behind his back and drew the knife slowly from its sheathe.


    He thought about the last time he held the knife. He had nothing to lose back in Ards Beg. He faced an opponent he couldn¡¯t believe was real from a distance no one expected could be bridged. The choices were throw it, fail and watch helplessly as his friend was attacked or stand there helplessly and watch knowing he tried nothing to stop it.


    This moment was different. These were people he¡¯d grown to care about deeply. They had trained him, encouraged him, protected him. They didn¡¯t just expect him to try, they believed he could do it. They believed he could save them, at least in this instance. If he tried this and failed, they¡¯d be gone and it would be his doing. He felt Shadow taking hold of his brain.


    Donal put himself in their situation. He was the one under the arrow, and they were under the knife. What if they tried and failed?


    Don¡¯t be an eejit, Shadow told him. They would never fail you.


    But what if they did? Would he hate them for failing in those last moments? Would he blame them for trying to save him, even if it didn¡¯t work?


    With his answers now secure, he closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. The heat from Mag Mon spread through his right arm and into the rest of his body.


    He opened his eyes and looked at the archer. He launched the knife launched across the main chamber with an upwards arc of his hand from behind his back. The knife struck his target in the back of its bow hand, pushing it and the bow it held away from Siobhan and Maeve. Its arrow struck the side wall and clattered to the ground. Maeve helped Siobhan into a standing position, allowing her to send Dother backwards into the cauldron room with a gale.


    Niall saw Donal¡¯s throw and leapt at the chance to counterattack. He lunged at Breaslin, shoving Finn away in the process.


    ¡°Gaibid,¡± Breaslin said.


    The sorcerer kept his hand up. Niall was held in place, the blade in his right hand inches from striking Breaslin. He attempted to close the distance but couldn¡¯t move his sword closer. The effort caused him to grunt and grimace in pain.


    Breaslin stepped out of the intended area of attack and examined the lacerations in the armor on Niall¡¯s upper arm.


    ¡°They say that the pain from an ¨¢vertach wound never goes away.¡± Breaslin said. ¡°Not fully. Maybe my friend can help you with that.¡±


    The brute walked up to Niall and lifted his greatsword high above his head. After a moment of measurement, the blade came down towards Niall¡¯s shoulder.

 32) Escape

    The moment was only long enough to afford its acknowledgment. Any longer and Donal might have saved Niall. Sounds blurred. Individual thoughts faded into a din.


    Finn yelled something at the brute, but Donal didn¡¯t hear the words. The giant man was knocked backwards as he made contact with his mentor¡¯s right arm, but Donal didn¡¯t care how it happened or where he landed.


    The black drape around Breaslin turned red, if only in Donal¡¯s eyes. His right hand returned to his spear. He held it parallel to the ground and pulled it behind him. His guttural cry alerted Breaslin to what was coming, but it didn¡¯t matter to Donal.


    Donal twisted his body as he heaved the spear. Breaslin brought up his staff and created a purple shield in front of his torso. The spear pushed the magical barrier back into Breaslin, allowing its tip to pierce the right side of its target¡¯s chest¡ªif only for a second¡ªbefore the overall force of its impact hurled Breaslin against the wall. Donal¡¯s spear fell to the floor where Breaslin¡¯s body had dislodged from it. Breaslin¡¯s walking stick was flung to an unknown location.


    With the three biggest threats in the room left reeling, Siobhan and Maeve ran to Niall¡¯s side to check on their elder. Donal ran to Finn¡¯s side as his brother climbed to his feet.


    Niall¡¯s arm now ended two inches below his elbow. His eyes were open, but he wasn¡¯t engaging with Siobhan or Maeve. They¡¯d lose him in a matter of minutes to blood loss if without proper help.


    Siobhan grimaced as her words came out.


    ¡°Mall an fhuili¨².¡±


    Her hand glowed, but the spell had no effect. She held up her leaf blade.


    ¡°Finn, you have to heat it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what the spell is meant for,¡± Finn said.


    Something behind Donal wheezed. One of the undead spearmen was pushing itself up to its feet.


    ¡°We talked about this, Finn,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Do it.¡±


    ¡°This is not one of those times!¡± Finn said.


    He pointed to Siobhan.


    ¡°She can barely move her left arm. Now I¡¯m supposed to burn her good hand?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t, Niall dies,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I can still use magic with a burned hand. If Maeve did it she wouldn¡¯t be able to loose another arrow until we could stop and rest.¡±


    Finn grabbed the hair on the back of his head and squinted at Siobhan.


    ¡°You¡¯d ask us to do the same thing if the roles were switched and you know it,¡± she said.


    Finn shook his head and directed Maeve to back away from Siobhan with a wave.


    ¡°Don¡¯t wait for the whole thing to heat up before you start,¡± he said, ¡°and drop it the second you¡¯re done.¡±


    ¡°I planned on making a run at the big guy with this afterward, but surgeon¡¯s orders.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already doing this. You don¡¯t need to ease me into this with jokes.¡±


    Her smile faded.


    ¡°The jokes were for me.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯m really sorry for this. Guirid miotail.¡±


    Siobhan held the blade of her sword against the end of Niall¡¯s right arm. Finn circled his hands slowly to keep the spell going.


    An orange glow appeared in the middle of the blade. Niall yelled as the glow expanded to the edges. Donal heard and smelled things that he hoped to forget someday. Niall fell unconscious a few seconds later.


    ¡°He¡¯s out!¡± Donal yelled. ¡°Is that bad? What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s to be expected,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Too much pain for a body to handle. Let¡¯s just hope this worked for now.¡±


    The orange glow had spread across the blade, and now Siobhan cried out in pain.


    ¡°Drop the sword, Siobhan!¡± Maeve said. ¡°Cut the spell, Finn.¡±


    The cries of pain now quieted to grunts and groans. Sounds of stirring echoed from the cauldron and main chambers. The brute and Dother were coming to.


    Donal ran to his spear and grabbed it in time to strike down one of last remaining undead soldiers. Finn stooped by Siobhan and took her sword hand in both of his.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can make it better,¡± he said.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°It can¡¯t feel any worse,¡± she said.


    ¡°¨ªccaid.¡±


    Finn¡¯s hand glowed green. Days worth of recovery progressed in a matter of seconds. Siobhan pulled her hand away and flexed her hand.


    ¡°That will have to do for now. Where are going, Maeve?¡±


    ¡°If we go back down that passage we won¡¯t have any room to dodge their attacks,¡± Maeve said. ¡°And it looks like that creepy man just raised another archer from the side room back there. I mean no offense, but after seeing what Donal did to yer man there, I don¡¯t want to risk all of our hides on one magic shield.¡±


    ¡°You got a better option?¡± Finn asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see another way out.¡±


    ¡°We might have to make our own,¡± she said. ¡°You checked that side room earlier. Any candles or torches in there?¡±


    ¡°Completely empty. And damp.¡±


    ¡°Something¡¯s making that room brighter than the others. We¡¯re too far away from the entrance.¡±


    Siobhan gingerly tested her sword before she grabbed and sheathed it. She pulled herself up with her staff and looked at Donal.


    ¡°Take Niall¡¯s mace and help Maeve get him into that room,¡± she said. ¡°Finn, get in the doorway and cover us until we¡¯re ready to bring it down.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®bring it down?¡¯¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°We need to keep them away while we find our way out,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°If there is one.¡±


    ¡°And if there isn¡¯t one?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to slow them down in either circumstance,¡± she said.


    Maeve lifted Niall to a seated position and put her head under his maimed arm. Donal followed her example on Niall¡¯s other side and they stood him up and walked him into the side room.


    Dother entered from the cauldron room and unleashed another blast of heat into the doorway. Finn¡¯s shield held, but his counterattack was blocked.


    ¡°Back up into the room,¡± Siobhan said.


    Finn did as ordered.


    ¡°The big guy¡¯s standing up!¡± Finn yelled over his shoulder.


    Finn created a pale yellow fire in front of Dother using the remains of one of his undead henchmen.


    ¡°Donal, shatter the bottom third of each side of the doorway," Siobhan said. "Not too high or it could cause a cave-in.¡±


    Donal grabbed Niall¡¯s mace and stepped in front of Finn. He gave his best attempt to generate an imb¨¢ulad strike but the area was too cramped for maximum leverage. He struck each side of the doorway causing the lower sections of the door to crumble and cascade toward the middle of the doorway¡¯s floor. The stones in the middle sections, now unsupported, began to crumble and filled in more of the area at the bottom.


    ¡°That will have to do,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Help Maeve find what she¡¯s looking for, I¡¯ll try to plug in the rest.¡±


    Siobhan stood behind Finn. She liquefied the loose blocks on the floor to set up her next spell.


    ¡°M¨²r delg.¡±


    She labored to keep her arms moving as thorn-covered vines emerged from the muck and climbed toward the ceiling. The longer she kept her arms moving the thicker the vines grew. Donal could see the brute through the gaps in the vines. He charged at them with sword in hand. Upon reaching the wall, he chopped at the temporary wall, causing the vines to shudder with each blow.


    Maeve grabbed the sleeve of Donal¡¯s hauberk and pulled him over to the corner. He held her hand six inches from the wall and showed the faint light in her palm.


    ¡°There¡¯s light coming through the other side of this wall,¡± she said. ¡°These stones, they¡¯re different than the ones a few feet away. Can you knock this down?¡±


    ¡°Knocking a wall down is different than chipping some pebbles away from the edge of it,¡± Donal said. ¡°And this isn¡¯t exactly a maul.¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try it, of course.¡±


    Donal landed several strikes in the middle of the wall. An oblong outline roughly three feet wide formed around the grouping of the mace impacts.


    ¡°The big guy¡¯s cutting through Siobhan¡¯s wall faster than I¡¯m breaking through mine,¡± he said.


    ¡°Let me try something,¡± Finn said. ¡°Get ready to carry Niall through. If this works, we may not have much time. Can you cast that from over here, Siobhan?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can hold them off much longer, no matter where I¡¯m standing,¡± she said. ¡°Wait, are you going to¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªYes. I think I can thunder my way through judging by what he¡¯s done already.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t have enough time to shield the whole from the cave-in.¡±


    ¡°What choice do I have?¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Let me thunder through and you have the shield ready.¡±


    ¡°The big man will shred the vines once you stop casting.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep this up anyway. We¡¯ll just do this quickly.¡±


    Siobhan stood in front of the damaged wall and waited for the rest to get into position. Maeve and Donal propped up Niall two feet behind Siobhan. Finn¡¯s eyes were fixed on the ceiling above the wall.


    ¡°Ready, Finn?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°T¨®rann!¡± Siobhan said.


    The middle of the wall collapsed outward.


    ¡°Boc¨®it!¡±


    Finn¡¯s shield protected the new gap in the wall from a downpour of rubble. Each strike of the brute''s sword was followed by the sound of vines tearing.


    ¡°Go!¡± he yelled. ¡°Watch his head.¡±


    Donal and Maeve carried Niall over rubble and through the hole and into the new room. Siobhan ran after them. Something heavy and metal struck stone in the general area where Donal last saw his brother standing. Finn ran into the room before Donal could call for him. His shield disappeared and the three feet of ceiling next to the wall crashed to the floor.


    The rubble didn¡¯t fill the entire gap they created but it would take their pursuers more than an hour to clear a path to them. Donal felt safe enough to examine his new surroundings. The space was roughly a ten-foot square. Four rows of shelves lined the three remaining walls, save for the gap where a wooden ladder leaned against the far wall. Light pierced through the gaps that surrounded a hatch door in the ceiling.


    ¡°A cellar,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Donal, Finn, get up that ladder and let¡¯s hope nobody¡¯s standing guard.¡±


    Donal climbed the ladder and took a breath before punching the hatch open and popping his spear upwards. Nothing. He stepped up and stuck his head above the floor of the next level. Finn followed him through the hatch. The upstairs area was empty. He called back down once he was satisfied they were alone.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Donal laid on the ground with his head, shoulders and arms above the cellar entrance. Maeve fed Niall¡¯s uninjured arm up past Donal¡¯s head to Finn. Donal grabbed the front of Niall¡¯s chainmail and pulled as he slid backwards from the hatch. Maeve helped push him up the best that he could. It was a slow process, but eventually the three of them got Niall onto the floor above them.


    A voice yelled from the other side of the rubble below.


    ¡°How did this happen?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, ¨¦amon. The boy got off a lucky throw, and it all fell apart from there.¡±


    ¡°Do you hear yourself, Dother? I¡¯ve worked too hard and for too long to let a boy with a knife stop me now. Did you know that these chambers ran next to the abbey cellar?


    ¡°We thought it was close, but we didn¡¯t think it was on the other side!¡±


    ¡°The two of you will get your arses up that well and end them. We¡¯ll deal with their allies after Sunday. And Dother¡ªyou don¡¯t want to see what happens if I get to them before you do.¡±

 33) Covering tracks

    ¡°Out of time,¡± Maeve said to Siobhan. ¡°Finn, help your lass up the ladder.¡±


    Siobhan glared at Maeve as she ascended.


    Donal looked through one of the front windows.


    ¡°Nobody¡¯s out there,¡± he said.


    ¡°Nothing at all?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it past that Dother creep to camp out down there, but Breaslin had to have arrived after us. Our horses still there?¡±


    ¡°Unbothered,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Everyone to the horses, then,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Do not let that sorcerer get between us and the main road.¡±


    Maeve took Niall¡¯s injured shoulder and Donal took the other. Finn stood ready to grab Niall¡¯s legs. They lifted him up and made their way through the graveyard that surrounded the abbey.


    ¡°Carefully, now,¡± Maeve warned as they reached their wagon, still secured to along the treeline south of the abbey. The trio slid Niall headfirst across the bed of the wagon. Donal and Maeve mounted their horses. Finn stopped Siobhan before she climbed in the back.


    ¡°Wait, we need to work on your arm.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re joking,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°They¡¯ll be popping up out that well at any moment.¡±


    ¡°If we do this now, you can better tend to Niall while we run,¡± Finn said. ¡°Can two people intertwine their spells?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it done, but I¡¯ve never heard of a need for it, either. I¡¯ve read exchanging too much energy with one plane in one location is risky. Why are you asking me this now?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re twice my skill when it comes to healing spells,¡± he said. ¡°And I think if we¡¯re casting the same spell at the same time, it¡¯ll be faster.¡±


    ¡°I love this newfound confidence,¡± she said, ¡°but in this case, it¡¯s closer to three times your skill right now. And we would be tapping different planes. This is not the time or place to test this.¡±


    Finn¡¯s eyes drifted. Siobhan stepped toward him to recapture his focus.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, though,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll touch up my shoulder first so I can tend to Niall better.¡±


    Finn nodded and climbed into the front. The group eased their way down the slope and found three horses standing next to the main road.


    ¡°Stall it!¡± Donal yelled.


    He slid down and ran to the horses.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need more horses right now!¡± Maeve yelled.


    Donal whooped and drove the enemy horses away. He winked at Maeve as he climbed the saddle.


    ¡°Fair play,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Can we go now?¡±


    ¡°Which way, though?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Left,¡± Siobhan said from the wagon. ¡°We need to head east to Kilmacrennan.¡±


    She no longer labored to speak.


    ¡°How did you come by that?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°Himself,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°That¡¯s what I was trying to tell you. Breaslin let it slip while he was threatening us.¡±


    ¡°That might explain some of his wording,¡± Finn said. ¡°I bet he¡¯s got it in the old abbey there.¡±


    ¡°Does he have a thing for abbeys?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not tell this story standing,¡± Maeve said.


    Maeve led the group east as directed. Donal hung back behind the wagon, periodically looking to the rear for any pursuers.


    ¡°So why abbeys, again?¡± Donal asked between glances.


    ¡°I reckon it¡¯s just like Murrough and Niall were suggesting,¡± Finn said. ¡°They¡¯re going to use a ¡®pagan¡¯ curse to start a blight from a Catholic abbey. To further divide the two groups and make them easier to manipulate. If it¡¯s symbolism he looking for, I know where he¡¯s got the real cauldron: in the abbey just east of town, where St. Colmcille was first educated.¡±


    ¡°St. Colmcille?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Again?¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°He¡¯s Tyrconnell¡¯s patron saint. And don¡¯t forget that some people here in Tyrconnell don¡¯t consider Balor to be the clear-cut villain that most of the tales make him out to be. Breaslin is pushing symbolism and spectacle to maximize the outrage and conflict.¡±


    The only major crossing for miles approached. The northern turn led past the corrupted pond and back to Doe Castle.


    ¡°Oi! Someone¡¯s approaching from the north on horseback,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t it be some poor fella wandering around at an unfortunate time?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°It could,¡± she said, ¡°but it could be one of of Breaslin¡¯s men. A scout or messenger, maybe. Just be ready is all I¡¯m sayin¡¯.¡±


    They were a quarter mile from the crossroads when the unidentified rider turned west without slowing their pace. Maeve grabbed her bow with her left hand and held her right hand over the quiver on her waist. The rider slowed as he neared. He was close enough to see Maeve¡¯s wary posture but did not reach for a weapon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t shoot!¡± the man said. ¡°I¡¯d hate to be killed with one of my own arrows.¡±


    Maeve¡¯s tone lightened.


    ¡°I suppose I could nick your arm as a courtesy. What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Did you not ask me to come to this very spot?¡± Gavin asked.


    ¡°I did, but I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d change your mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I have, but I couldn¡¯t let you face all this while I was sittin¡¯ on my arse,¡± he said. ¡°Or any of you for that matter¡ªhang on, where¡¯s Niall?¡±


    Maeve pointed her thumb over her shoulder.


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ not good. We finally met Breaslin and it went badly. We¡¯ve got to get him out of here.¡±


    Gavin slid off his horse and ran to the wagon. He walked between the back of the wagon and Donal and saw Niall laying in the back of it. He ran his hands over his forehead and held them at the back of his head. He looked away from Niall and Donal could see his eyes were coated in a thin layer of glass.


    ¡°How did this happen?¡± he asked Maeve.


    ¡°Breaslin laid a trap for us, and we ran right in,¡± Maeve said. ¡°He¡¯s had the cauldron for months; the one we came to protect was a fake.¡±


    Gavin regained enough composure to look upon Niall again.


    ¡°His arm,¡± he said, ¡°how did you close it up?¡±


    ¡°We seared it,¡± Siobhan said.


    She shifted her weight and tucked her right hand between her leg and the wagon bed.


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°We heated my sword,¡± she said.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have time to stoke a fire,¡± he said. ¡°Show me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Show me, Siobhan!¡±


    Siobhan raised her hand. The effects of Finn¡¯s spell gave it the appearance of a week''s recovery, but the pattern of her sword¡¯s hilt had been burnt into her palm, complete with the broken line left by its golden thread.


    He stepped away from the wagon and shook his head.


    ¡°You know this isn¡¯t your fault,¡± Siobhan said.


    Gavin looked back at her, then looked at Finn and Donal.


    ¡°You should know that somewhere along the way the phrase ''it''s not your fault'' became little more than a sequence of noises to me," he said. "I stopped fighting because I couldn''t prevent the people I cared about from getting hurt. I focused on making things to protect them, and your luck''s still not improving."


    Maeve patted Gavin on the shoulder.


    ¡°Stay with me, here, Gavin,¡± Maeve said. ¡°We''re standing here having this conversation instead of being left for dead under that Abbey because of you. My bow. Siobhan''s sword. Donal''s spear. That bleedin'' knife you made Siobhan''s mom has now saved her twice."


    Gavin looked at Donal. His mouth was drawn back so tight his chin trembled. Finn stepped up and pointed to the tears on the left shoulder of his gambeson.


    "Gavin, a sluagh caught me unawares and I''m not even bleeding from it," Finn said. "You''re clearly carrying something around with you--and have been for a while it seems. So I''m just going to say, ''Thank you,'' because you''re the reason I''m alive right now."


    Gavin slapped a hand on Finn''s right shoulder and nodded several times before he turned away from the group. He ran a hand past his nose and walked to his horse.


    "Where we going, then?" Gavin said.


    "We¡¯re going to Kilmacrennan," Siobhan said. "I fear this little reunion has given Breaslin just enough time to catch up.¡±


    Donal looked at the crossing and the hills that towered over it.


    ¡°Which way takes us to Kilmacrennan fastest?¡± he asked.


    ¡°If we go straight, the road travels past the north side of the hills,¡± Maeve said. ¡°It¡¯s a nicer road but longer. If we turn right, it¡¯ll take us to a road that passes the south side of the mountains and towards town. It¡¯s shorter, it can be covered in less time.¡±


    ¡°Either way is too far for a day¡¯s travel, correct?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°They are,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s force them to take the long way,¡± he said.


    ¡°How are we going to do that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Fog seemed to work pretty well on us,¡± he said.


    ¡°Nobody here is digging up a graveyard,¡± she said.


    Finn canted his head and grinned.


    ¡°I think I can conjure the variety that doesn¡¯t bring the dead back to this mortal plane.¡±


    ¡°Grand," Maeve said. "I¡¯d rather not put all our hopes in a fog cloud, though.¡±


    ¡°See that river that runs just south of the crossing?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°The Bullala?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Nobody cares that you know the name!¡± Maeve said. ¡°What about it, Donal?¡±


    ¡°I was wondering if Siobhan could do that bit where she turns hard ground into mud on the bridge after we cross it.¡±


    ¡°Great idea,¡± Siobhan said.


    Maeve kicked her heels, sending Sc¨¢th into a gallop down the road.


    Gavin let out a single chuckle.


    ¡°She agrees, apparently," Donal said.


    Gavin climbed into C¨¢emaid''s saddle and the rest of the group set off after Maeve. Finn didn¡¯t even leave the wagon to fulfill his part of the plan.


    ¡°Ce¨®.¡±


    He spun his hands for several minutes until visibility had dwindled to a few hundred yards. Once they all had crossed the bridge, it was Siobhan¡¯s turn. She slid out of the wagon.


    The bridge needed no arch to clear the river below it. Its sides were made of large rectangular stones but still had the aesthetics of any pile of stones stacked between two farm fields. Siobhan walked up to it and raised her arms.


    ¡°Linn lathach.¡±


    The middle of the bridge began to dip. The depression expanded until the walls on either side of the bridge tilted inward and collapsed upon the mud and broken stone under it. Coupled with the uneven terrain on both sides of the rubble, this was now too treacherous a terrain even for a single horse and rider to cross.


    ¡°Fair play,¡± Gavin said.


    ¡°That was the easy part, if you can believe it,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We have to figure out how to infiltrate an abbey full of creatures and sorcerers with our leader left maimed and unconscious. And we have less than two full days to do it.¡±


    ¡°First thing¡¯s first,¡± Maeve said. ¡°We need to find a place to rest and plan that¡¯s out of the way¡ªjust in case they¡¯re as good as building bridges as you are tearing them down.¡±

 34) Lying low

    ¡°How¡¯s he doing up there?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s still out,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Not to sound judgmental, but you¡¯ve been healing him for over an hour,¡± he said. ¡°How much longer will it take?¡±


    "This isn¡¯t a bruise or a stab wound¡ªor even a broken bone," Siobhan said. "Most of the recovery can¡¯t be done by a spell. Your body feels every bit of your hand, from the outside of your skin down to your bone. Now it feels nothing, and yet sometimes the body¡¯s fooled into thinking it still does.¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s the treatment. We had to close something without anything to close it with¡ªand you know how that turned out. And to top it all off, he¡¯s right-handed. Everything is going to be harder for him now. Any of these factors would be too much for some people, let alone all of the them.¡±


    ¡°So what have you been doing to him, then?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Trying to heal the damage we did by closing his arm,¡± she said. ¡°Trying to prevent it from becoming infected. Trying to ease his pain. The truth is I¡¯d have better luck with that with the herbs and bandages I used on your brother back home than I am having with magic.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    She gave him a smile that begged one in return.


    ¡°Now you do,¡± she said.


    Donal looked over the nearby treetops to the hills that crested above them. This route was meant to be shorter than that of their adversaries yet they spent most of the past hour going south and southeast.


    ¡°Maeve, how much time are we saving exactly?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°How much sooner will we arrive in Kilmacrennan before Breaslin does?¡±


    ¡°Four hours, maybe. Six if we¡¯re very lucky but, given our run of luck lately, two hours would be a stretch.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°They¡¯re riding on the better road,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re running with a wagon over rougher road.¡±


    ¡°What if we found a place to camp for a few hours?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Maybe we could ride into the village without the wagon.¡±


    ¡°Six people and their full gear on four horses? They¡¯d tire too quickly.¡±


    ¡°That would be another reason to stop,¡± Finn said. ¡°So we can address the real possibility that it won¡¯t be all six of us going.¡±


    Maeve turned her head to catch Finn with one eye.


    ¡°At a time like this!¡± Maeve said. ¡°Are you seriously keen on¡ª¡±


    Gavin cleared his throat.


    ¡°You know,¡± he said, ¡°I know someone up the road that owes me a favor. I¡¯m not positive that it¡¯s on the level of quartering a group this size, but it¡¯s tucked behind a small line of hills as this whole range thins out. Even if all we do is refresh our water from his pond, it would be worth it.¡±


    ¡°Not the worst idea,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°At some point we¡¯ll need to rest and plan.¡±


    Maeve¡¯s head was still craned toward Finn, but she looked at Gavin as he rode alongside her.


    ¡°If you truly think it¡¯s worth it, then we¡¯ll go there,¡± she said.


    ¡°I do,¡± Gavin said. ¡°The turn is a quarter of a mile past these curves.¡±


    "Cut that question a bit close, did we?" she asked.


    The passing landscape was nowhere near as idyllic as the valley from which they escaped. Earthen colors dulled the green of the hilltops. Large stretches of tall grass were pockmarked with large bushes and patches of dried grass. Turf-covered boulders littered the roadside, most of them nested on top of their own pile of pebbles and broken stones. Late-season dog violets and buttercups were the only sources of vibrant color.


    The ridge on their left flattened. A road emerged from behind it and joined their road twenty yards ahead. The group turned left and followed this new road into the hills. Gavin held up a hand for them to stop short of a cabin.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to them.¡±


    Gavin dismounted and knocked on their front door. A small child no older than eight years old opened the door and hugged Gavin¡¯s leg. The child then wrapped its legs around Gavin¡¯s, forcing the smithy to lug his lopsided shoe into the house, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°I thought Gavin didn¡¯t have any family in the north,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t,¡± Maeve said.


    Siobhan grinned.


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s just some widow that¡¯s taken a shine to him.¡±


    ¡°Siobhan, does it look like I¡¯m up for any of your slagging right now?¡±


    ¡°Ah well, don¡¯t worry,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s only beautiful in the conventional way.¡±


    Maeve turned her body backward and pointed a finger at Siobhan. The only thing that saved Siobhan was the sound of the door closing a second time behind Gavin.


    ¡°Here¡¯s us,¡± he said. ¡°My friend told me that some odd-looking fellas¡ªclearly Breaslin¡¯s men¡ªhave been coming round lately. He doesn¡¯t want to know us, much less take us in. Which is why I promised him that if they catch us camping next to his pond down the road, we won¡¯t have any clue who lives in this cabin behind me.


    ¡°He told you that?¡± said Maeve.


    She raised her nose and held eye contact with Siobhan.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°What¡¯s his name, then?¡±


    ¡°Maeve¡­ I just told you what I promised,¡± Gavin said. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you until this whole thing¡¯s over, in case they catch us.¡±


    Maeve¡¯s shoulders and smile sunk as the air left her sails.


    ¡°Right. Take us to the spot, then.¡±


    ****


    Again. And again. And again.


    Siobhan had saved Niall¡¯s life. The group escaped the abbey. They had covered their tracks. Gavin had even secured a secluded spot to recover and rest. The adrenaline that had coursed through Donal¡¯s blood had faded, and the bigger picture started to unfold before him.


    Gavin relieved Siobhan and watched over Niall while she and Finn watered the horses. Maeve climbed the ridge the separating their camp from the main road to check for scouts and pursuers.


    Donal got the first chance at whatever rest was possible but all he could do was replay the order of events in his head, over and over:


    <blockquote>


    He throws the knife at the archer.


    The fight resumes.


    Niall loses his hand to the brute.


    </blockquote>


    After several dozen replays in his mind, Donal began to imagine alternate sequences until he settles on what he should have done:


    <blockquote>


    He throws the knife at the brute.


    The chamber freezes in stunned silence.


    Donal throws his spear at the archer.


    Everybody¡¯s fine.


    </blockquote>


    He tried to force his eyelids shut to squeeze a nap into this brief opportunity, but his eyes inevitably opened and drifted to the spot where Gavin tended to Niall, and the cycle started anew:


    <blockquote>


    He throws the knife at the archer.


    The fight resumes.


    Niall loses his hand to the brute.


    </blockquote>


    There was no peace to be had. Not right now.


    Siobhan didn¡¯t want you to throw the knife, Shadow told him. She wanted you to pass it to someone who could do something useful with it. But you thought you could save them and look what happened.


    You can¡¯t even save yourself from me.


    For years he allowed himself to be convinced that Shadow had the better perspective. It didn¡¯t matter how illogical its argument was¡ªShadow was always right. If it was talking, any extended argument would end in some form of pain for Donal.


    Look at Niall.


    Donal turned his head away and started rubbing his hands and forearms.


    I said, ¡®Look!¡¯


    That was your doing. What¡¯s going to happen to Maeve or Siobhan in Kilmacrennan because of you? What¡¯s going to happen to Finn? Who¡¯s going to pay for your mistakes next time?


    ****


    ¡°Is he¡­ leaving?¡± Siobhan asked.


    Finn looked from Siobhan to the camp. Donal approached them with a sack slung over his shoulder and his spear in hand. He walked straight toward Siobhan and pointed behind her.


    ¡°I need one of the horses,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°For what?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I need one. Just one.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not getting any of these horses without an explanation.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Donal, I don¡¯t," she said.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you just trust me?¡±


    ¡°Usually I can. Put yourself in my shoes though. Someone comes up in the middle of mission like ours and starts demanding one of the horses without giving a reason why. Would you give them the horse?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡±


    ¡°Help me to,¡± she said.


    Donal threw down the sack and ran his free hand up his hairline and yelled through gritted teeth. He stepped backward and looked toward Gavin and Niall.


    ¡°Please,¡± he said. ¡°Just one.¡±


    ¡°The number of horses isn¡¯t what I¡¯m concerned out.¡±


    Finn looked closer at the arm Donal held to his head. Several small scratches were visible on the outside of his forearm between the sleeves of his hauberk and his wrists. Each of the scratches were new. Tiny red smears from them pointed to his hands. These weren¡¯t battle marks or from the rubbing of his chainmail. It was worse than that.


    Finn held up a hand to enter the conversation.


    ¡°Donal, you can''t blame yourself for what happened Niall.¡±


    "Seems to be the thing to do," Siobhan muttered.


    Donal¡¯s head sunk toward his collarbone and his back stiffened. He turned his whole body to Finn, standing two feet away.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you!¡± he yelled.


    Donal turned his body back toward Siobhan. Maeve descended the hill towards camp to investigate the argument.


    ¡°It concerns all of us,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Why are you any more at fault than the rest of us?¡±


    His eyes darted between Siobhan and the ground. His posture relaxed after a few moments.


    ¡°Because I should have thrown the knife at the big man,¡± Donal said. ¡°Then while everyone was stunned I would have hit the archer with the spear instead.¡±


    ¡°Donal, was the room stunned when you threw the knife, or did the fight start immediately?¡±


    A grimace appeared on Donal¡¯s face. The longer he considered the answer, the deeper it dug into his brows and cheeks.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you would have time to do both,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to throw it at the archer, and you were dead on. Maeve and I would have died if you hadn¡¯t done what you did.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± Donal yelled.


    He softened his tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    He trailed off. Finn recognized the opportunity to try again.


    ¡°We understand what he means to you,¡± Finn said. ¡°You¡¯ve always gotten along great with him¡ªsometimes better than you have with Murrough.¡±


    Donal gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯m not talking to you!¡± he yelled.


    Finn stepped backwards and raised both hands in surrender.


    ¡°Donal, why are you giving out to Finn?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°I¡¯m asking the questions. I¡¯m telling you, ¡®no.¡¯¡±


    Siobhan always was wonderful with Donal. Her soft touch and the way in which she could intuit something without it sounding judgmental were some of his favorite things about her. Several of her monthly visits included a moment or two where she provided a safe ear to hear all of Donal¡¯s grievances with his brother.


    At this moment, however, in the midst of the fatigue, the pressure and the uncertainty, her facade was cracking. Finn rested his hand on her shoulder and let his expression tell her that he was fine¡ªrelatively speaking, anyway.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to hear it from him,¡± Donal said. ¡°Honestly, I should have slid the knife to you.¡±


    ¡°You have to know it wouldn¡¯t have done a thing to save anyone,¡± she said.


    ¡°I do not! Are you going to give me a bleedin¡¯ horse so I can fix this or do I have to leg it there on my own?¡±


    ¡°I will not give you a horse,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But I hope you don¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°Watch me and see how far hope carries ya,¡± Donal said.


    Donal turned and headed toward the main road.


    Finn stepped toward his brother, knowing enough not to lay a hand on him in this state.


    ¡°Donal, think this through,¡± Finn said.


    Donal spun around and put the tip of his spear three inches from his brother¡¯s throat.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done nothin¡¯ but think about this. You were against the two of us joining this fight. Maybe you were right. You¡¯re always right, aren¡¯t ya?¡±


    Donal¡¯s sleeve slid up his raised arm, allowing Siobhan a clear view of the scratches. She¡¯d seen the marks like these before--mostly in the first year after after the boys¡¯ parents had passed--and got the explanation from Finn at the time. Any signs of annoyance left her face as she looked back at Finn.


    Finn slowly showed Maeve his palm to stop her from advancing. She couldn¡¯t know how many times in the past his brother threatened him¡ªthough never with such a weapon at his disposal. Donal¡¯s eyes flared with hate. All Finn could do was hope that at least some of it was for Breaslin. In moments like these Finn knew he was rarely the real target of Donal¡¯s hatred¡ªand it broke his heart every time.


    Maeve ignored Finn and yelled from the bottom of the hill.


    ¡°Donal, you know he¡¯s just looking out for you. We all are.¡±


    ¡°Grand. Look all you want. Just don¡¯t follow me.¡±


    Donal held Finn¡¯s gaze for a few more seconds and then spun around. The trio watched in silence as he disappeared around a bend.


    Once Donal was out of sight, Gavin walked over to Finn and Siobhan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mean to pry,¡± he said. ¡°What did he mean when he said he will ¡®fix it?¡¯¡±


    ¡°Hard to tell sometimes,¡± Finn said. ¡°In the past, it would mean he¡¯s running away. He¡¯d see himself as a problem and the easiest solution would be to remove himself from the situation.¡±


    ¡°Now? I¡¯m glad were at least three miles from town,¡± Finn said. ¡°I think he¡¯s going after ¡®em all. I¡¯m hoping that fatigue wears him down and cools him off sooner than usual.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go back up,¡± Maeve said. ¡°We still have a few more hours until twilight; I should be able to see him for a while. You may want a horse ready to chase after him if it takes too long, though.¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t let him see you watching him,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I find that adorable or insulting,¡± Maeve said.


    <hr>

 35) Ebbs and flows

    Gavin walked up to the fire and dropped some chunks of meat into the pot that hung above it.


    ¡°Venison, compliments of the landowner,¡± Gavin said.


    ¡°What exactly did you do for him to warrant this?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not say,¡± he said. ¡°I promised to share no information at all. What were you three talking about?¡±


    ¡°Our plans for Kilmacrennan,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°And did you not want to wait for Donal?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure we need Finn for this conversation,¡± Maeve said.


    She ignored Siobhan¡¯s glare and peered into the pot.


    ¡°To answer your question,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°I''d prefer to get Donal¡ªby carrot or by stick¡ªand then head straight for town.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fair,¡± Gavin said.


    ¡°Now for the uncomfortable part,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Niall¡¯s not awake yet. Even if he were, he¡¯s in no shape to be heading into battle right now. Anyone disagree?¡±


    Finn, Maeve and Gavin looked down at the fire.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask if anyone liked it. I asked if they disagreed with my assessment.¡±


    Finn and Gavin shook their heads.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ready to agree with that last part yet,¡± Maeve said. ¡°But go on.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, it means he stays behind,¡± she said.


    ¡°Which means someone else stays behind,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan pursed her lips and nodded. She pointed in the direction of the cabin.


    ¡°If they won¡¯t give us their names, they¡¯re not going to give Niall cover,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I don¡¯t fault them for it.¡±


    ¡°But you are correct,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Apologies for being presumptuous but I indeed asked them if they would take him in. This meat is a token of their regret. We can keep camp here for a few more days, though.¡±


    ¡°So who¡¯s staying back?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°Should we bring Donal back here instead?¡±


    ¡°Why would he be the one that stays back?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°For the same reason he¡¯s not here with us,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, the young lad has grown on me. But what happens with that thing in his head starts to poke at him in the middle of a battle?¡±


    ¡°Aside from that argument earlier, he¡¯s gone along with every plan and acquitted himself well,¡± Finn said. ¡°He¡¯s taken to Niall¡¯s training, Faelan¡¯s too.¡±


    Finn paused after seeing Siobhan wince at her uncle¡¯s name.


    ¡°Point is, I don¡¯t think he poses any more risk to the group than I do. Maybe I should stay back?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Not entirely, anyway. The numbers we faced at that oul'' farm will be joke to what¡¯s ahead of us if we don¡¯t play this right.¡±


    She pointed toward the pond, the spot of this afternoon¡¯s argument.


    ¡°This is what happens when his mentor loses a hand,¡± she said. ¡°Imagine the result if he loses you, Finn. Or Siobhan, who¡¯s as good as an older sister to him. Even if we beat Breaslin, that thing inside will break him for losing any of us.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the fella well,¡± Gavin said. ¡°But if he didn¡¯t go and something happened, he¡¯s not going to go any easier on himself. Answer me this: is he a good enough fighter?¡±


    ¡°Still raw, mind you,¡± Maeve said, ¡°but he is.¡±


    ¡°You two agree?¡±


    ¡°We do,¡± said Siobhan.


    ¡°Grand. How¡¯s his heart?¡± asked Gavin. ¡°Is he one to shy away from a fight?¡±


    Siobhan chuckled.


    ¡°He¡¯s more likely to start one than run from one,¡± she said.


    Maeve nodded.


    ¡°On that note, dya¡¯trust him?¡± Gavin asked. ¡°In the heat of a fight, has he ever been a liability?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s come through for us,¡± Maeve said.


    Gavin nodded and let Maeve¡¯s answer linger for half of a minute.


    ¡°Then it seems to me that you need to remind him of this,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s three voices between you and, by my count, you got this thing in his head outnumbered.¡±


    A graveled voice called out from the side.


    ¡°Your count¡¯s off by one, O¡¯Roarke,¡± Niall said. ¡°Though I¡¯m likely not the one to go after him.¡±


    Maeve ran over to Niall.


    ¡°You buck eejit!¡± she said. ¡°How long were you listening?¡±


    Niall¡¯s eyes wouldn¡¯t fully open and his voice wavered on random words.


    ¡°Enough to get caught on and save myself from asking,¡± he said. ¡°The argument really was that bad?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him like that,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°He¡¯s convinced what happened is his fault,¡± Finn said. ¡°How¡¯s the pain?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, so I won¡¯t tell you,¡± Niall said. ¡°How long since he left?¡±


    ¡°Two hours or so,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Bring him back,¡± Niall said. ¡°If he¡¯s not on his way back already.¡±


    ¡°We still haven¡¯t determined who¡¯s staying with you,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain one of you already has,¡± he said.


    Finn and Siobhan looked at each other with furrowed brows and tilted heads. Maeve looked in another direction.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Gavin?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It makes sense that I stay behind,¡± he said. ¡°My views haven¡¯t changed. I didn¡¯t set out for Gartan because I was itching for battle. I came down because you were right. Breaslin¡¯s dangerous, and I was worried about you. If I had to fight somewhere along the way because of it, so be it. I¡¯d make peace with that later.¡±


    Maeve¡¯s cheeks turned pink.


    ¡°You¡¯re throwing too many words around this¡­ thing,¡± she said.


    Gavin took one step toward Maeve.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I speak of it?¡± Gavin said.


    More color flooded her cheeks. She scratched the area behind her ear and looked away from camp. In this moment Finn envied Donal¡¯s unknown location¡ªthough not as much as Maeve, he supposed.


    Siobhan leaned into Gavin¡¯s eyeline. With her back turned to Maeve, she shot him a sobering look and carefully mouthed the words ¡°bad time.¡±


    ¡°I suppose this isn¡¯t the time for that,¡± he said. ¡°Perhaps someday.¡±


    Maeve cast her eyes on the ground, turned her head back towards the group and bobbed her head in agreement. She raised her head and smiled as she glanced at the smithy.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she said.


    The pained expression on her face faded but her grin held. Siobhan winked at Gavin and turned back to Niall.


    ¡°If that holy show has finished, we can move on,¡± Niall said. ¡°You have to track down your brother, Finn, and go straightaway to wherever it is you think you¡¯re going.¡±


    ¡°Kilmacrennan,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°How did you work that out?¡± Niall said.


    ¡°Breaslin let it slip after you agitated him,¡± she said. ¡°It was you, in fact, who worked that out.¡±


    Niall¡¯s laugh was interrupted by a cough.


    ¡°So I did.¡±


    ¡°We forced him the long way around here, but they¡¯re traveling lighter than we are.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to have any chance, you¡¯ll need to get to the real cauldron before he returns.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying leave now and travel overnight,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°You think he¡¯s going straight through?¡±


    ¡°I do not, but you can¡¯t take that chance,¡± Niall said. ¡°I think he¡¯ll take over some poor scut¡¯s home for the night. But he¡¯s arrogant, not foolish. He won¡¯t linger there. Get to town tonight. Worst case, you can thin their forces right before he returns. Best case, you get there with enough time to get in and grab the cauldron and leave without running into him at all. We¡¯ll figure out how to reverse his curse and then see to him afterwards.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing else for it,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Finn, Gavin, get our three horses ready. We¡¯re taking G¨¢la without the wagon. C¨¢emaid is staying here.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s four of you,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Take my horse¡ªI mean, Niall¡¯s horse.¡±


    ¡°If Breaslin¡¯s folk do come round, you¡¯ll need a quick exit,¡± she said. ¡°And I¡¯m thinking three horses might be easier to hide than four, if it comes to it.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t be able to carry as much,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Win or lose, it¡¯ll be done in a day and a half,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Don¡¯t need to dedicate one horse to supplies.¡±


    Siobhan held a finger over her mouth and looked around the camp.


    ¡°What am I missing, Niall?¡±


    ¡°Just the obvious,¡± he said, ¡°but you¡¯ll track him down on the way east.¡±


    ¡°You really think so?¡± she asked.


    ¡°If his initial thoughts were about running away he¡¯d have returned already, mortified over what he did,¡± he said.


    ¡°He¡¯d want control of something,¡± Finn said. ¡°He probably thinks that spear is as good as any means of getting it.¡±


    Gavin finished the transfer of food and other supplies into smaller sacks and fastened them to the saddles. The trio mounted their horses¡ªSiobhan atop Airgid, Finn riding G¨¢la¡ªand looked back to the men on the ground.


    ¡°Take care of him,¡± Siobhan said to Gavin. ¡°We¡¯ll be back with good news in less than two days.¡±


    ¡°I have no doubts, lass,¡± Niall said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t be more proud of how the four of you have come to rely on each other in such a short time, complimenting each other¡¯s strengths. You¡¯re so close to it now; go get our lad and finish the job.¡±


    The three turned their horses in the direction of the main road.


    ¡°Oi! You three,¡± Niall said. ¡°One more thing.¡±


    Niall pulled himself up to a seated position.


    ¡°If you see that big fella, be sure and send my regards. Be as impolite as possible.¡±


    ****


    Donal didn¡¯t need Maeve around to tell him to stay on the main road to avoid getting lost. He strained his eyes, searching for any last bit of twilight through the trees overhead but all traces of sunlight had gone. If not for the sound of windswept leaves the dense cover above could pass for an overcast night sky.


    Reality set in nearly two hours ago, after he had walked a quarter of a mile down the main road. There was nothing he could accomplish in Kilmacrennan by himself, especially after trudging three miles on foot without sleep.


    He spent the past hour hoping to stumble upon an unexpected vantage point, a messenger wearing the proper colors or anything else he could take back to the group. After how he left things, he could not stumble back into camp empty-handed.


    One more hour on the road and he¡¯d have no choice.


    Occasionally he wondered why Finn or Maeve hadn¡¯t already caught up to him on horseback, but he dared not dwell on it. The reason always settled somewhere around Siobhan and Maeve interchanging him with Gavin without a second thought.


    He was ready to duck into the hedge and assess any passing groups larger than two people, but each encounter was with a single rider upon horseback. A faint rumbling emerged in the distance behind him. It would be the first traveler heading in the same direction. Could it be Finn?


    The noise grew louder. Donal realized that it was more than one person on horseback. His friends wouldn¡¯t send two people out to retrieve him. He slipped into the copse with his spear ready.


    Even with the lack of ambient light, Donal could make out the silhouettes of three horses as they rounded the bend. No wagon. Likely not them. Did Breaslin find a way over the river for a chance at the shorter route?


    As the horses neared, Donal caught the shapes of armor and weapons. It wasn¡¯t until they passed in front of him that he could make out the recurve of Maeve¡¯s bow holstered below the outline of her wavy hair. He jumped out into the road once they passed.


    ¡°Oi! Finn!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Finn yelled.


    The trio yanked on their horses¡¯ reins.


    ¡°You were hiding there this whole time?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I was not!¡± Donal said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get this far by hiding.¡±


    ¡°Were you ever planning on coming back?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to at least bring back information to make up for what I¡¯d done,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°How¡¯s that working out for you?¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°I¡¯m still out here, aren¡¯t I?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Where¡¯s Gavin?¡±


    ¡°Tending to Niall,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°You guys looked like you were making your move,¡± Donal said. ¡°I thought maybe you¡¯d be taking him into town.¡±


    ¡°We were not,¡± she said. ¡°We were going to grab you on our way in. We¡¯re trying to get an even bigger jump on Breaslin¡¯s crew coming out of Gartan.¡±


    ¡°So no sleep tonight?¡±


    ¡°Only if you can sleep sitting up leaning against one of us,¡± she said. ¡°Climb on.¡±


    The three pointed their horses in their original direction.


    ¡°Stall it,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter now?¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to say anything about it?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°What would you like us to say?¡± Finn said. ¡°And how many times have you told it to yourself these past two hours?¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mere to me,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°It was extremely poor timing. But you had just gone through something terrible to cap off a week most lads your age couldn¡¯t imagine. It affected us all, albeit to different degrees.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just so tired of all,¡± Donal said. ¡°I know Maeve and Finn think this s¨ªlrad stuff isn¡¯t the reason or the cure for me. When I held the stone back in Niall¡¯s house, though, for that brief moment I felt like me again. This shadow in my head was gone, just like the times before I got sick.¡±


    ¡°Lately I¡¯ve had longer stretches without these episodes, I¡¯ve even had a few nights with no nightmares. Finn, could you imagine? And each time I can¡¯t help wonder if that might be the last episode, that I¡¯m done with the nightmares and the visions. Then the next one hits like a puck in the gut.¡±


    Finn slid out of his saddle and walked up to his brother and pointed to his head.


    ¡°None of us know what¡¯s going on in there. We can guess, but we¡¯ll never understand fully.¡±


    He patted Donal¡¯s chest with the back of his hand.


    ¡°I think we have a pretty good idea what¡¯s going in there, though. Maybe you need a different approach. Instead of getting your hopes up that each one of these episodes will be the last, maybe just accept that it won¡¯t be.¡±


    ¡°That seems bleak,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Hear me out,¡± Finn said. ¡°Look around: we¡¯re approaching the middle of the night. But we all know the sun¡¯s coming back. It¡¯s not ¡®if¡¯ but ¡®when.¡¯ We¡¯re in the middle of summer but we know at some point it¡¯s going to get cold, and no matter how cold it gets this January, summer always returns.


    ¡°As bad as the next episode gets, try to remember it will pass, as it always does. When it¡¯s gone, accept that another one will come at some point. Not because you did something wrong. Not because you¡¯re a bad person. The next episode will come because that¡¯s how it works.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to lose the people close to you over one of these episodes. One day, you may be able to remind yourself during these episodes to trust the judgment of Siobhan, Maeve and myself over that voice beating you down.¡±


    Donal canted his head and wrinkled his nose.


    ¡°Fine. Siobhan and Maeve¡¯s judgment, you arse,¡± Finn said. ¡°Maybe even your own judgment as well.¡±


    ¡°I understand you now,¡± Donal said, ¡°but I think it¡¯s much easier for you to say it than is for me to do it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it is.¡±


    Donal¡¯s eyes cycled through the three people before him. He inhaled deeply and nodded his head before stepping toward Finn and squeezing his brother before he could react.


    ¡°Thank you, Finn.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    ¡°Is your conscience clear?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°As clear as can be,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Grand,¡± she said. ¡°Lots to do. You¡¯re riding with Finn.¡±

 36) Through the night

    ¡°I know this place,¡± Siobhan said.


    The canopy of leaves was behind them. Meadows and fields retreated into the darkness on their left. A dense collection of Scots pine lined the right side of the road.


    ¡°What is so special about this forest?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Not the forest,¡± she said. ¡°What sits behind it. We¡¯re near Doon Rock.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡±


    Donal felt his brother shake his head in response to his question.


    ¡°G¡¯way with that head shake, Finn,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t act like it¡¯s some well-known thing when you¡¯ve never been there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been to England, but I know it¡¯s there,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan cleared her throat.


    ¡°My mam¡¯s taken me there a few times. It¡¯s where they appoint the new O¡¯Donnell chieftains. They have a holy well and a rock from which they hold special masses.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Donal said. ¡°All this druidic and s¨ªlrad business and you still go to mass?¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten that Murrough takes us to mass?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Every time we visit.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Very few O¡¯Donnells are druids. Not many more are aware of our druidic roots. Most have no clue about any of it. Mam says we should go if no other reason than appearance. Personally, though, I very much like going to mass. I go sometimes without her. I feel lighter afterwards. More at peace.¡±


    ¡°Complicated, indeed,¡± Maeve said.


    Siobhan eyed Maeve and then scanned the horizon to their right.


    ¡°During the day you can see Doon Rock from most places along this road¡ªif you know where to look.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re traveling at night,¡± Maeve said, ¡°because we don¡¯t have time for a tour.¡±


    ¡°At no point did I suggest that.¡±


    ¡°Just remember you¡¯re riding with three people who don¡¯t have a family castle or an ancient site of heraldry,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Let alone both.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to put on notions,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize how close we were to it, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not her fault we¡¯re lacking them,¡± Donal said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize for your family, Siobhan.¡±


    Siobhan eyes lowered. Her face darkened.


    ¡°I have two uncles that would prove otherwise,¡± she said. ¡°One a swindler, the other a betrayer.¡±


    Donal tapped on Finn¡¯s sides as a memory flooded his mind.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I almost forgot!¡± Donal said. ¡°Remember Dother¡¯s eyes down under the abbey?¡±


    ¡°I remember you got all jumpy about them,¡± Finn said. ¡°But I never understood why.¡±


    ¡°When we first saw them near Cashelmore they passed right by us¡ªas close as Siobhan is to Maeve right now,¡± Donal said. ¡°Dother looked right at me and his eyes started glowing that same green. I felt this pull on my stomach until we were too far apart.¡±


    ¡°A few days later at Doe, your uncle and I were talking in between training sessions. The conversation turned to what Lorcan¡¯s trying to do to him. He started sympathizing with some of the clans that were displaced by the MacSweeneys when they came back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hearing a reason for your excitement,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Right before he started talking about that I saw his eyes shine bright green. At the time I thought it was just a weird trick of the sun. I think Dother¡¯s put some kind of spell on him.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know of any spell capable of that,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Nor do I,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°To last that long, over a long distance¡ªI don¡¯t know how he could corrupt someone like that out of nowhere.¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be out of nowhere, would it?¡± Donal asked. ¡°Faelan has grounds to be angry at your granddad and uncle. Dother wouldn¡¯t have to create that kind of resentment out of whole cloth. He¡¯d just have to give it a push. Maybe that¡¯s why I felt the pull at Cashelmore¡ªthat shadow in my head makes me an easier target than the rest of you.¡±


    ¡°That kind of manipulation goes along with the conflict they¡¯re trying foster between the different factions,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying he¡¯s an innocent victim?¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying he wouldn¡¯t be the first good man that got swayed by Breaslin¡¯s tricks,¡± Donal said. ¡°When this is all over, you should talk to Faelan instead of kicking down Doe¡¯s gates and chargin¡¯ at him.¡±


    Siobhan looked away but said nothing.


    ¡°Which brings me to another thought,¡± he said. ¡°Whatever our plan is, I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s a good idea to leave me to face either of those sorcerers by myself. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll have any better luck than before, but I¡¯d rather not take that chance.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine a plan where any one of us has to face either of them alone,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°but noted.¡±


    ¡°Whisht!¡± Maeve said. ¡°Finn, look up there on the left. Is that one of your tombs?¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°How can you see anything like that in the dark?¡± he said.


    ¡°Years of focus and training,¡± she said.


    ¡°That can¡¯t make your eyes function better,¡± he said.


    ¡°You two make wind and thunder fly from your hands, but my ability to see things in the dark is too much to believe? Just tell me this: two large boulders holding up a large flat stone over a pile of earth. That¡¯s a tomb, right?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like it.¡±


    ¡°Then why isn¡¯t anything crawling out of it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a good thing?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°A sign that Breaslin and Dother still aren¡¯t back yet.¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t like it,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Let¡¯s keep quiet until we get closer to the town.¡±


    They rode in silence for the next mile, their heads swinging back and forth toward every noise they heard. Siobhan held up the group at the halfway point and stared at the hills to the south for nearly a minute before continuing forward. The end of that mile-long stretch was the end of the road itself, terminated by a larger crossing road.


    ¡°This is the road that leads back toward Dunfanaghy,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Kilmacrennan is not far to the right.¡±


    ¡°How long until sunrise?¡± Donal asked.


    Maeve turned her head toward the northern sky.


    ¡°Two, maybe three hours,¡± she said.


    ¡°How can you tell?¡± Donal asked.


    She pointed to the sky.


    ¡°See The Plough up there? This time of year it crosses under the North Star right as the sky starts to brighten. Right now it¡¯s still a bit to the left of the North Star. My guess is that it will take another two hours for The Plough to cross under it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s brilliant, Maeve,¡± Finn said.


    Maeve fidgeted in her saddle.


    ¡°Simply a lot of time spent staring at the night sky.¡±


    Siobhan urged her horse into the middle of the new road. She stared down both directions before pointing her horse back at the group.


    ¡°Even with a few more hours of darkness as cover, I still don¡¯t like our chances going straight through town,¡± she said.


    She pointed to the next crossing south of where they stood.


    ¡°I say we take that left turn down the road there and go east until we know we¡¯re past the town, then head south and enter town from some point on the town¡¯s eastern edge. They¡¯re expecting us to run straight in from Gartan, so they¡¯ll have more people watching the western entrances.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that road will take us where we need to go?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t, but the main road curves south after our turn. It¡¯s likely that there will be a series of roads that will take us around the back to town.¡±


    Her suggestion was met with shrugs and nods. She kicked her heels and led them five hundred yards down the road and to the left.


    These back roads reminded Donal of home. Hedges extended into the road from both sides, reinforced by walls of thin tree trunks. The vegetation and the darkness disguised several sharp jogs in the road and relegated their average speed to a walk. Even when they came upon open stretches, Siobhan kept them slower than a gallop.


    ¡°Three horses galloping this time of night can be heard a long way,¡± she said.


    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Donal said.


    Her instincts about their alternate route proved correct. Their route traveled east, sometimes south, but never backtracked. The first hints of dawn crested the horizon in front of them.


    ¡°That¡¯s far enough, don¡¯t you think?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°It is," Siobhan said. "Time to take the next road heading south."


    It was an easy three hundred yards from the turn to the next main road. Siobhan stopped them short of the crossing.


    ¡°This is the road leading to the eastern side of town,¡± she said. ¡°Do we know where the abbey is within the town?¡±


    ¡°Never been,¡± said Finn. ¡°The old abbey was destroyed three hundred years ago. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s been rebuilt.¡±


    ¡°So they could be just sitting around some ruined building creating this devastating blight?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like the brightest idea.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, it seems to have worked out fine for them for several months,¡± Donal said.


    Siobhan looked in each direction. Grazing fields and barren growing fields allowed them to better survey the terrain in advance of the coming sunrise, but the added visibility had its cost.


    ¡°I had hoped for more cover,¡± Siobhan said.


    Maeve pointed to the south.


    ¡°You might have it there. See that wandering line of trees? Looks like the markings of a river. Let¡¯s cross this field and follow the treeline for a while.¡±


    Siobhan nodded. The group dismounted and guided their horses through the meadow on the other side of the road, following its eastern fence all the way to the small river.


    ¡°Are you going to tell us what this river is called, Finn?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to answer that,¡± Finn said. ¡°If I tell you, you¡¯re going to slag me for being a know-it-all. If I don¡¯t know, then you¡¯ll slag me for being ignorant.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± she said. ¡°So pick one so we can move on with our day. Do you know it or not?¡±


    Finn sighed.


    ¡°I do not.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know? Honestly, Siobhan, I¡¯m failing to understand what you see in this one.¡±


    ¡°Ah well, he¡¯s a patient man, for one,¡± she said with a wink at Finn.


    ¡°He has his moments,¡± Maeve said.


    That was the first time Maeve let Finn off the hook. Donal threw up his palms and dropped his jaw in disbelief at her. She held up her hand and pursed her lips with a slight nod, much the way a parent might signal to their partner to feign defeat for the sake of their toddler¡¯s confidence.


    It was slow going along the river¡¯s edge. The group had to lead the horses around the end of each stone fence separating fields. In some cases the treeline came too close to the fence, and G¨¢la chose to wade into the river rather than squeeze through a narrow gap. They forded a smaller river that fed into the one they trailed. Finn didn¡¯t know the name of that one, either.


    They followed the river around another bend. Siobhan grabbed Donal as he was about to climb over another fence. She pointed to an area due west of where they stood.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±


    A large wall loomed over the two fields between them. Where once was windows, asymmetrical holes offered a glimpse of another fragmented wall behind it. Several smaller stone shapes hung low the ground. There were no signs of movement, but Donal could see a soft orange glow and a thin pillar of smoke rising from the ruins. Above them a purple glow had formed at the base of the eastern sky.


    ¡°This river gets too close to the abbey,¡± Finn said. ¡°We¡¯re going to be spotted.¡±


    ¡°What about this wooded ridge to their east?¡± Maeve said. ¡°It overlooks the grounds. We could get near the edge of the treeline without them noticing.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s follow this fence up to the ridge and work our way through the trees,¡± Siobhan said.


    The group crossed the field, ducking behind the fence and trees whenever available. Donal caught himself holding his breath as they moved with deliberation. G¨¢la and Airigid showed unease once they entered the woods.


    ¡°We should tie the horses here so that the people over there won¡¯t hear them fussing,¡± Donal said. ¡°We can come back for them when we finally decide on a plan."


    ¡°Do it,¡± Siobhan said to the brothers. ¡°Careful as you catch up with us. Don¡¯t snap a single twig.¡±


    Donal and Finn tied up the three horses and tiptoed nearly the entire 160 yards to where the ladies were crouched.


    ¡°How many are down there?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°I see four around the fire next to the wall,¡± Maeve said. ¡°A fifth keeping watch. I don¡¯t see any movement along the road into town, but we should expect two or three more guards between it and the ruins.¡±


    ¡°So which way are we going in?¡± Donal whispered.


    ¡°We¡¯re not,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got almost an hour until the sun rises, and it will be at our backs,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We can¡¯t see where they have the cauldron from up here and we don¡¯t know how recently they changed watch.¡±


    ¡°Also, Niall seems confident that Breaslin¡¯s men are stopping to rest instead of riding through the night, which means he shouldn¡¯t be here until at least midday. Some of us may want to attempt a brief nap of our own while we assess what¡¯s happening down there. Anyone disagree?¡±


    ¡°Not enough to stop it,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t have much longer than an hour,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Are you comfortable without any sleep?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see how we¡¯d get a decent rest, anyway,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I¡¯d rather save myself the aggravation. Best of luck to you all.¡±

 37) The heist

    Looking back, Donal wished they hadn¡¯t attempted to rest. He was bone-weary but he rarely nodded off during the hour and a half that they lied in wait. Instead he spent the time cursing the birds of the fields that sang in their full pre-dawn voices. Silence surrounded the abbey in Gartan--as did Breaslin¡¯s men. What made this location different?


    Ninety minutes spent lying one hundred yards away from a larger opposing force. Too tired to think about anything else but sleep but too anxious let himself nap lest he allow stray snore or cough to give away their location.


    Donal cracked his eyes to monitor his friends. Finn laid on his back with his eyes on the branches above. He was attempting the breathing exercises he often instructed Donal to do. Siobhan twisted her body in every direction but prone. No matter which way she turned, her eyes inevitably opened and focused on one of her friends. Within a minute she¡¯d spin her body a new direction and the cycle restarted.


    Donal found Maeve¡¯s demeanor most unsettling. She squirmed in place, fidgeted with twigs lying on the ground, even bouncing her knee on several occasions. Still, her gaze rarely left the ruins or the main road. Donal¡¯s eyes were open for several minutes before she noticed he was lucid and looking at her. She saw Finn¡¯s state and Siobhan¡¯s tossing and turning. Finally, she closed her eyes and sighed.


    ¡°Has anyone slept?¡±


    ¡°Ten minutes in one stretch,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I¡¯ve nodded off a few times, but never for long,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Same,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Maybe this wasn¡¯t the best idea,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°None of us have any experience with this,¡± Finn said. ¡°So far you two have been sound with your plans. We¡¯re all just making it up as we go along at this point.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re moving on?¡± Maeve asked.


    ¡°We are,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°What¡¯s happened down there since?¡±


    ¡°They changed watch ten minutes or so after you lot laid your heads down. A single rider¡ªlikely a scout or messenger¡ªchecked in with the man on watch soon after. A pair of horseman rode up to the abbey a half-hour ago and immediately turned around.¡±


    ¡°They have at least one patrol,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°At least,¡± Maeve said. ¡°An archer and a spearman.¡±


    ¡°So we have at least half of an hour before the next one,¡± Siobhan said.


    Maeve pointed her chin to the east.


    ¡°We won¡¯t have that long,¡± Maeve said. ¡°They have no roof to block the sunrise. They¡¯ll be waking up soon.¡±


    ¡°How many of them can you hit before they can respond?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°Two,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Three if they were all asleep. I¡¯d have to get that watcher first.¡±


    ¡°Can you?¡±


    ¡°Not from here,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I¡¯d have to move up to the right side of that clump of trees in front of us.¡±


    ¡°Hang on, are we riding out of town?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°Are we meant to fight down there, run back to the place where we tied the horses?¡±


    Siobhan nodded at Donal.


    ¡°Here¡¯s it, then," she said. "Fellas, you¡¯re with me. We¡¯re going back to mount up and creep back here as far as we can without giving our position away. We¡¯ll signal Maeve to move up and take out the watchman.¡±


    She skimmed the grounds and pointed at a clearing left of the abbey.


    ¡°When she fells her first target, we¡¯ll ride over to that point south of the abbey,¡± she said. ¡°Harder for anyone coming up from the main road to spot our horses.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Maeve said. ¡°They¡¯ll hear you coming and run out of that opening at you. I can hit another one before your feet hit the ground.¡±


    ¡°Stay up here as long as possible, Maeve,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°The sun will be rising right behind you. Let¡¯s go, lads.¡±


    Siobhan led the brothers east through the woods to their horses. Donal mounted Sc¨¢th and followed his brother as the horses hugged the treeline. They stopped seventy yards from their resting place.


    ¡°This is close enough,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Finn said.


    ¡°We never worked out a signal,¡± she said.


    ¡°I could try whistling,¡± he said.


    ¡°Do it.¡±


    Finn whistled a three-note staccato call, unlike any bird Donal had heard before. No noise came from the abbey. No stirring could be seen from the camp or the trees from which Maeve would loose the first arrows. Finn¡¯s signal likely was lost in the choir of birdsong that filled the valley.


    ¡°Again,¡± Siobhan.


    Finn tried an exaggerated version of his first whistle. It was met with no action.


    ¡°Are we going to have to run over there and tell her?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Donal said. ¡°They¡¯re going to wake.¡±


    Donal cupped his hands around his mouth and faced Maeve¡¯s last known location.


    ¡°Cock-a-doodle-do!¡±


    ¡°You eejit!¡± Finn hissed. ¡°I¡¯m going to clatter you if they don¡¯t come up here and do it themselves.¡±


    ¡°Whisht!¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I think she¡¯s moving in.¡±


    Donal squinted at the small bit of field in front of the forest. Maeve¡¯s shape crept toward the clump of trees and then out of his sight.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°How long dya¡¯think before¡ª¡±


    A distant cry interrupted Donal¡¯s question.


    ¡°Move!¡± yelled Siobhan.


    She kicked her heels and urged Airgid over the short stone fence. The brothers followed behind her. Once Sc¨¢th hurdled the fence, Donal looked right and found Maeve ducking to the other side of the group of trees. He followed her eyeline back to the ruins and saw the sleeping guards sitting up and looking in each direction.


    One of the guards locked eyes with Donal and pointed. His yell was cut short by an arrow to the upper chest. Donal followed Siobhan until they reached the designated clearing.


    Donal was the last one off his horse, but the first one through the right gap in the abbey¡¯s broken southern wall. Four men had slept next to the fire. Three of them now stood over it, weapons in hand, scanning the trees for Maeve¡¯s location. The fourth man, the one that had seen Donal, lied on the stone floor of the old abbey. Another man¡¯s body hung halfway out of the right hole in the northern wall. Two men were crouched next to the hole on either side of a slightly larger and more ornate version of the cauldron Breaslin destroyed under the abbey in Gartan.


    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± Donal yelled.


    One of the guards jumped back in surprise at Donal¡¯s exclamation, two others turned and advanced toward him, their green eyes glowing in the early dawn light.


    They might not be here of their own accord, Donal thought. Just like Faelan.


    Donal chopped the nearest man¡¯s spear to the ground, shoved his handle in the man¡¯s jaw and swung the head of the spear around, striking him with the side of the spearhead and knocking him out.


    Two more men entered through the missing western wall. Siobhan and Finn rushed toward them.


    ¡°These folk may be twisted by Dother and Breaslin,¡± Donal said. ¡°We need to be careful.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll do our best,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°but we may not get that choice with all of them.¡±


    She pointed to Maeve¡¯s first two targets with her staff in between strikes.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to save a lot more than just these dozen or so people,¡± she said.


    Donal dropped his spear and his guard as he processed what Siobhan told him. Only a last-second dodge saved him from one of the soldier''s attacks.


    ¡°Nobody¡¯s happy about it,¡± said Finn. ¡°We¡¯ll do what we can.¡±


    Maeve punctuated Finn¡¯s comment with an arrow in the other guard still standing near the fire. She advanced down the slope toward the ruins. He shoved the middle of his spear into his foe¡¯s face and cued the butt end of his spear into the man¡¯s diaphragm and once more in his forehead.


    An icy voice boomed from outside the ruins, sending a chill down Donal¡¯s spine.


    ¡°How did they slip past you fools?¡±


    ¡°They came from the east, ¨¦amon.¡± another man said. ¡°Your messenger told us they were riding from Gartan!¡±


    ¡°They were,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°You three, go around the outside and find that ranger! We can take the rest.¡±


    ¡°Donal!¡± Finn yelled. ¡°Help her out!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, fella,¡± Donal said.


    He ran up to one of the guards next to the cauldron. Spinning away from the guard, he raised his spear and swung it back around, toppling the man in one blow.


    Through the window he saw a spearman and two archers passing the outside of the northern wall. He saw the other guard come at him from the corner of his eye. He deflected the man¡¯s sword, bowled him over and ran around the end of the wall.


    An archer ran past Donal as he turned the corner. He collided with the second and both of them fell to the ground. The spearman charged at him. Donal rolled to the side in time to see the man¡¯s spear driven into the ground.


    Donal pulled himself up by the grounded spear. The spearman drove a knee into his jaw, spreading waves of pain throughout his skull. He fell backwards holding the side of his face.


    His foe removed the spear from the ground with a grunt and stood at his feet. Donal looked to his right and reached for his spear, but he could not wrap his fingers around it. The spearman smiled as he raised his weapon over his head. The man would not miss again.


    Donal had one move left. He raised both legs and drove his heels into the man¡¯s knees. The man cried out and dropped the spear, its head slicing through Donal¡¯s brogue and nicking the outside of his left leg. He stretched in vain for his own spear but he could not reach it. His hand warmed, and with his next swipe he grasped his spear as if it was that close to him the whole time. He pushed the spear upwards and tipped the man¡¯s body to the side.


    Maeve called out from the hill.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got the other two. Get in there and help them.¡±


    Donal circled back around the wall and clubbed the second cauldron guard as he stood up. A sudden squeeze within his stomach drew his attention to the cauldron. The knotted pattern was much more intricate than its counterfeit and done with silver inlay. A faint yellow cloud twisted something within its belly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch this with your hands,¡± he said to Maeve. ¡°It¡¯s not right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d beg to differ,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°We spent months getting it just right.¡±


    Breaslin stepped onto the stone floor. Siobhan had handled her last guard. Finn was landing his final combination of spell and sword strike, gasping for air.


    ¡°It seems we weren¡¯t the only ones that felt the need to travel through the night,¡± Breaslin said. ¡°And to think you two called me paranoid.¡±


    Two more people entered the room and flanked Breaslin: Dother and the brute from Gartan.


    The large soldier looked over the four of them. A gleam appeared in his eye as he drew his lip into a sneer.


    ¡°I see the oul¡¯ man died,¡± he said. ¡°Shame.¡±


    Waves of heat spread across Donal¡¯s limbs. Without another word he brought up his spear and ran toward the opposite corner of the ruins. There was nothing else in his field of vision but the man who maimed his mentor. The brute struck the spear away, knocking Donal off-balance. Donal regained his footing and brought the butt end of his weapon into the brute¡¯s chin. His opponent blinked but did little else in reaction.


    The soldier connected with a backhand strike against Donal¡¯s right side. The chopping motion didn¡¯t break through Donal¡¯s hauberk, but it likely fractured one of Donal¡¯s ribs and sent him flying to the left.


    He lifted his head to check on the others as he collected himself. Siobhan was working through her own aspirations of revenge. She pummeled Dother with a barrage of spells. Between each cast she cursed him anew for what he did to her uncle. It was all Dother could do to raise barriers against them, but he still felt safe enough to revel in the druid¡¯s anger.


    Finn was left to face Breaslin. He deflected the sorcerer¡¯s repeated flame attacks, but the wide-eyed look on his brother¡¯s face hinted that luck was playing too big of a role in his survival. Twice Breaslin¡¯s self-satisfied arrogance left an opening for Finn, and twice Finn attacked the opening with thunderous blasts. The second blast knocked Breaslin against the north wall.


    The soldier neared. Donal pushed himself up in time to deflect a lunge of the brute¡¯s blade. The deftness of the move surprised Donal and he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Pleased with ourselves, are we?¡± the brute asked.


    The soldier grabbed Donal¡¯s face with his free hand and Donal learned the hard way that he wasn¡¯t the only one in this fight that possessed imb¨¢ulad magic. Donal feared the heat from the brute¡¯s hand was searing his mouth and cheeks. The loss of focus on his spear allowed the sword to inch toward Donal¡¯s neck.


    ¡°At least the old man put up a fight before I took his arm,¡± the soldier said.


    Donal wasn¡¯t worried about his face anymore.


    He put all of his weight against his left hand, helping it to halt the sword¡¯s movement. He pulled his right hand away, imitating his brother¡¯s movements in Gartan. He held at his hip until it trembled, until it turned his stomach. When his left hand started to give, he struck the brute in his lower left side.


    The uppercut lifted the soldier onto his toes before knocking him backward. He landed on his right side three feet away. Donal looked down at his knuckles and immediately regretted doing so. The pattern of the brute¡¯s chainmail was imprinted on the outside of his fingers, breaking the skin in several places. The adrenaline kept the pain at bay¡ªfor now.


    Donal didn¡¯t close the distance and stand in front of the brute, remembering what he had done to the spearman who tried the same with him. He circled around his left side and attempted a downward strike from there. The soldier rolled out of the way and onto his knees, ready to parry Donal¡¯s next downward stab. Instead Donal slid his right hand down and smacked the handle against the brute¡¯s head.


    The force of the strike guided the man into a forced crouch. He dropped his hand to the side to try and swing under Donal¡¯s spear, but Donal cued his spear into the opening in the right side of the brute¡¯s torso.


    Donal did not wait for any reaction. He cued the spear three more times, missing once but catching his opponent on the outer left shoulder and cutting his left forearm.


    This was Donal¡¯s chance. He turned his back to spin into a long swing¡ªas he did against one of the cauldron guards¡ªbut the brute¡¯s fist struck Donal in the chest when his face came around. Donal fell against the fragmented southern wall. His vision flashed white upon impact, his body slid down the wall and landed in a heap upon the floor.

 38) Recovery

    Donal held his chest with his right hand and tried to push himself up with his left, but he collapsed to the floor and rolled to his back. The soldier inverted his grip and approached Donal ready to end the fight.


    An arrow whistled above his head. It hit its target with a hollow thud and jingle of chainmail. The brute staggered backwards a step and held his hand under the exposed half of Maeve¡¯s arrow. Rage filled his eyes and he held the sword with both hands once again, groaning as he raised the handle above his head.


    ¡°At least you¡¯re coming with me,¡± he said. ¡°We can say hello to your oul¡¯ man.¡±


    Donal grabbed his spear and pushed himself up to his knees. He stuck the handle between the brute¡¯s legs and pulled it behind the man¡¯s right heel, toppling his foe backwards. The sword fell out his his hand as his arms fell against the floor. Donal rose to his feet and kicked the sword away. The soldier at his feet resigned himself to his fate.


    ¡°Ah well, I can tell Niall MacRannell hello the next time I see him,¡± Donal said. ¡°He¡¯s recovering nicely. He sends his regards, by the way.¡±


    Murrough wouldn¡¯t have approved of Donal¡¯s gloating in that situation. Had Finn not been distracted with his own battle he might have heard the exchange and scolded him. It wouldn¡¯t have mattered, though. Donal was comfortable with being petty at that moment.


    He gave a wave of thanks to Maeve, who returned to studying the cauldron at her feet. Siobhan and Dother¡¯s fight had moved out the western lawn of the ruins and out of Donal¡¯s line of sight.


    Finn still had Breaslin pinned against the north wall but the sorcerer showed no expression of concern. Finn¡¯s reactions were slowing. He had no chance to counterattack and he couldn¡¯t get close enough to use his sword.


    ¡°Baccaid!¡± Breaslin yelled.


    Finn¡¯s barrier was too slow to stop Breaslin¡¯s spell from landing. He spoke no more words and no spells flew from the arm he furiously waved at Breaslin.


    Breaslin walked up Finn and deflected a swing of Fragarach with a shield of his own. He grabbed Finn by his left arm and smiled.


    ¡°Cr¨¦chtnaigid lobaid.¡±


    Breaslin¡¯s right hand glowed green. Finn cried out and and crumpled into a pile on the ground. The sorcerer grinned and pulled his hand back for what was likely another flame strike within arm¡¯s reach of his target.


    Donal yelled and hurled his spear at Breaslin. He immediately regretted alerting the sorcerer as the man fell backwards to dodge the spear. The impact shook the north wall. Half of the bident¡¯s head was buried in stone.


    Breaslin stood back up and laughed as he patted the handle.


    ¡°Nice throw,¡± he said.


    Donal¡¯s right hand was still extended after throw. He missed. He couldn¡¯t close the distance in time. He needed another chance.


    The palm of his hand warmed, spreading heat back up his arm. He stared at the spear¡ªwas the sunlight glinting off its red stone? A faint glow appeared on the etching at the bottom of the spearhead. The wall began to rumble. The spear started to vibrate.


    With a loud crackle, the spearhead lurched out of the wall. The handle traveled toward Donal, the trailing spearhead slicing the back of Breaslin¡¯s hand. Donal caught the spear and looked back at the source of the rumbling.


    The left side of the wall started to collapse, pulled inward by the spear. Breaslin yelled as rubble fell about him and buried him three times over, but his words were muffled amidst the noise. The collapse spread across the left window and began to pull the middle section of the wall down.


    ¡°Maeve, grab the cauldron!¡± Donal yelled.


    ¡°You just told me not to touch it,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Make up your mind! Am I safe if I avoid using my bare hands?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±


    She took off her mantle and covered the cauldron. She tapped the covered treasure and looked at her hand. The wall collapse had reached the second window.


    ¡°Siobhan better fix me if this doesn¡¯t work,¡± Maeve said.


    She picked up the cauldron and ran it over to Donal.


    ¡°See to your brother,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m going to help Siobhan.¡±


    Finn sat on the floor with his back to Donal. He squeezed his left shoulder and groaned as he spun around to check on the rest of the room. He dropped his arm and his jaw at the sight of his brother hustling toward him.


    ¡°Your face is a state!¡± he said.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°I know,¡± Donal said. ¡°How bad are the burns on my cheeks and chin?¡±


    Finn furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Burns?¡± he asked. ¡°You have none, unless they¡¯re hiding under all the blood, bruising and swelling on one side of your face.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s a relief.¡±


    ¡°Is it, now?¡±


    ¡°How ''bout we move on and help the ladies?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Do they need it?¡±


    Donal looked at the collapsed north wall and heap of rubble covering the spot where Breaslin fell, the oversized soldier lying on the floor behind Donal and the dozen defeated or downed men strewn about the abbey.


    ¡°Well, they¡¯ll be more inclined to give us a ride home if we¡¯re around when they beat that creepy man,¡± Donal said.


    His injured ribs stopped him after one chuckle. Finn stood up and pointed to the pile of stones.


    ¡°Is he¡­?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine any man surviving that,¡± Donal said, ¡°but I¡¯m not thrilled to face any man that could.¡±


    Finn sheathed his sword and picked up the cauldron.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this. You go.¡±


    Donal grabbed his spear and dashed out the western side of the ruins.


    Siobhan swung her sword and staff at Dother without rest. It gave him little chance to counterattack, but her proximity to him forced Maeve to swing wide in order to get a safe angle at him. She knocked an arrow and let it fly.


    Dother jumped backwards to face Maeve. He angled his next shield to force the arrow''s bounce toward Siobhan¡¯s head. Siobhan yelled and grabbed the right side of her face, but quieted once she saw the amount of blood on her hand. Maeve lowered her bow and looked at Siobhan with concern.


    Dother seized the opportunity.


    ¡°Idlann l¨²th!¡±


    Purple lightning leapt out of his hand at Maeve, catching her in the left hip.


    Afraid of what Dother¡¯s shield might do with a thrown spear, Donal kept his spear low and charged at the man. He noted several wounds through the tears in Dother¡¯s robes as he approached.


    Recognizing that he was outnumbered and outmatched, the sorcerer stepped further away from the fight to intercept Donal.


    ¡°Gaibid.¡±


    Another unseen fist closed over Donal, halting his charge. Siobhan was rooted where she stood as well. Dother¡¯s eyes shifted between the two as he continued to circle his hands.


    ¡°Finn, where are you?¡± Maeve yelled.


    Donal could not turn his body to verify Maeve¡¯s condition, but the lack of footsteps and arrows whistling through the air led Donal to assume she was restrained as well.


    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°We ready ourselves,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°There¡¯s just one of him. He can¡¯t attack us while he¡¯s holding us. Look at him. He knows I¡¯m on to him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Finn called out.


    ¡°If you¡¯re free, attack him,¡± Siobhan yelled.


    Dother ran out of their reach and put Donal and Siobhan between him and Finn. He stopped moving his arms to prepare his next spell, but the hold took a few seconds to wear off¡ªmore than enough time for the sorcerer.


    ¡°Dof¨®caib marb.¡±


    The sound of metal sliding against stone emerged from the abbey. Donal looked back to see the fallen soldiers from the battlefield rise to their feet. The sound of things hitting stone came from the graveyard. Something pushed aside a capstone that was left partially ajar. Other closed capstones shook with each strike from below.


    ¡°Your idea to knock most of them out may save us,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°But we didn''t save them all, did we?¡± Donal said.


    He needed something to keep that thought from lingering in his head for long. Siobhan pointed her sword back to the abbey.


    ¡°Is that the big guy?¡±


    Donal didn¡¯t need to look.


    ¡°Of course it is,¡± he said.


    An arrow flew past, breaking Donal¡¯s conversation and Dother¡¯s concentration.


    ¡°You two dossers realize we¡¯re not restrained anymore, right?¡± Maeve asked. ¡°Care to help me?¡±


    Without breaking eye contact with Maeve, Siobhan pushed a blast of thunder at Dother to take him by surprise. She looked back at the abbey. Donal confirmed Dother was reeling and did the same.


    ¡°Actually,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°We won¡¯t.¡±


    She added another arrow to a fallen spearman and scoffed.


    ¡°Beg your pardon?¡±


    ¡°Finn! Grab the cauldron and head for the horses,¡± Siobhan yelled. ¡°We can¡¯t hold out for a second fight¡ªmuch less a third. We have to try to get the cauldron out of here. Donal, you¡¯re with him.¡±


    Donal ran up the hill after Finn.


    ¡°Maeve, ready for a flying target?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Donal looked back to see Siobhan blow Dother five feet into the air. Maeve didn¡¯t catch on until the sorcerer hit his zenith and her rushed shot caught him in the thigh on the way down.


    ¡°Leg it!¡± Siobhan yelled.


    Finn had set down the cauldron next to G¨¢la and took off his mantle to double wrap the cauldron.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°We do if we don¡¯t want to curse ourselves or the horse,¡± Finn said.


    Finn mounted the horse and held his arms out and took the cauldron while Donal climbed on behind him. He passed the cauldron back to Donal.


    ¡°We can¡¯t do two people and the cauldron,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°You have to,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Maeve can¡¯t shoot from horseback with it, nor can I defend us from behind with it.¡±


    Finn sighed and leaned forward as if he were taking his mark in a horse race. In truth, he was. Donal rested the cauldron on his brother¡¯s back, careful to make sure it touched no exposed skin.


    Maeve led them down the abbey road to the main road. Dother shrieked at them as he chased them from the field where they left him.


    ¡°You won¡¯t go far. The roads are no longer clear for you!¡± he yelled.


    ¡°The roads were meant to be clear before?¡± Donal asked his brother.


    ¡°Sure look, the sluagh were just misunderstood helpers,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Still, I don¡¯t like the sound of that,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We might need a back-up plan in case we can¡¯t make it back to camp.¡±


    The horses that Breaslin¡¯s people rode in from Gartan stood idle near the road, as did two guardsmen behind them at the crossing with the main road. By the time the guards heard the group''s horses approach, Maeve already had a shot lined up on the archer. They turned left towards town, and within a quarter mile the road was lined on both sides by the homes of Kilmacrennan. Donal wondered if the stillness in the street was due to the early hour or a survival instinct by the townsfolk to keep quiet and out of sight from the strange men patrolling their streets.


    Maeve turned north at the town¡¯s primary intersection. Four guards were stationed at the bridge one hundred yards north of the crossing. Unlike the men in front of the abbey, these guards clearly heard the group approaching and were ready.


    Maeve ducked two shots from the archers, but the spearmen stood in the center of the bridge ready to bring their horses down.


    ¡°Siobhan!¡± Maeve yelled. ¡°Clear ¡®em out!¡±


    Siobhan swung wide to the left and kicked into Airgid. until she was even with Maeve.


    ¡°G¨¢eth nerto!¡±


    The spearmen flew backwards. Siobhan gave the scrambling archer on her left a thump with her staff as she rode past.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Donal said, ¡°the road seems fairly open.¡±


    Up ahead, Donal saw Maeve shake her head.


    ¡°Remember this moment,¡± she said.

 39) Run for the well

    The road between Gartan and Kilmacrennan should have appeared less foreboding in the daylight. Given their situation, however, each hillcrest and bend in the road filled Donal with added dread, like stones dropped into a pail. How much farther could they go before the pail was too heavy to move?


    ¡°So what are we doing with this thing?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°Say we just fought our very last fight,¡± Donal said. ¡°What¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªWill you stop doing that?¡± Maeve yelled behind her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying we have,¡± Donal said, ¡°but when we have, what are we meant to do with something that we can¡¯t even touch?¡±


    ¡°We have to cleanse it,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°I gathered that much, thanks,¡± Donal said. ¡°How do we do it?¡±


    ¡°Focus, please,¡± Maeve said. ¡°The turn back to camp is up ahead. Let¡¯s make it back safely and then figure out the rest.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t even know if Gavin and Niall are still there,¡± Finn said. ¡°They might have been forced to flee further up the hills, or somewhere else entirely. Wouldn¡¯t hurt to have that back-up plan Siobhan talked about.¡±


    Maeve veered left down the road to Gartan and then fell even with Finn and Siobhan.


    ¡°I cant listen to you lot behind me and focus on what¡¯s ahead,¡± she said. ¡°Talk.¡±


    ¡°Finn, why can¡¯t you do what you did back at that field with the sluagh?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m not keen on setting one of the Four Bleedin¡¯ Treasures on fire?¡± Finn said. ¡°Because it wasn¡¯t fil¨ª magic and thereby pure luck that I didn¡¯t make things worse? Pick a reason.¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t make things worse,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°and we¡¯re well past the point of playing everything safe. What would you need?¡±


    ¡°A stone circle or a place like it.¡±


    ¡°What about that portal tomb we passed on the way into town?¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Given the kind of magic Breaslin and Dother are using¡ªand their likely ties to Crom Dubh¡ªI don¡¯t think attempting this in a portal or passage tomb is a good idea,¡± he said. ¡°We should avoid any place that¡¯s underground.¡±


    ¡°Any place like that in this area, Siobhan?¡± Donal asked.


    Siobhan wrinkled her face and tilted her head.


    ¡°Maybe, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°On the left!¡± Maeve yelled. ¡°More of those creatures!¡±


    Maeve reined in Sc¨¢th. Finn and Siobhan followed her lead.


    Donal leaned past Finn¡¯s left shoulder. Nine fallen people approached them in the middle of the road carrying wooden clubs, boughs and staves. On the far side of the meadow on their left, a road led up a small hill and ended in front of several small mounds.


    ¡°It¡¯s an old druid burial ground,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Maybe a thousand years old. Something felt wrong about this place on our way in, but I couldn¡¯t see anything at the time.¡±


    ¡°Could have mentioned it,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But neither of us saw anything, remember? I didn¡¯t want to stop us for something that might not have been there.¡±


    Five former druids were halfway down the side road, heading for them. Eight more followed them from the mounds.


    ¡°Run or fight?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°We clear a path,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Finn and I from down there, Maeve stays mounted.¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± Donal asked.


    Siobhan examined the state of his face and the damage to his armor.


    ¡°Stay up there with the cauldron.¡±


    Donal squeezed his cloaked charge. He the swollen areas in his face throbbed.


    ¡°Are you joking?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Not in the least,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°I¡¯m twice the fighter he is! When will you stop trying to shelter me?¡±


    ¡°And when will you start giving me some credit? Of course you¡¯re the better fighter¡ªbut look at the state of you! You¡¯ve got one good fight left in you. I don¡¯t want to waste it clearing a path through these things. Can you let us handle this, or will you keep trying to prove me wrong until they surround us?¡±


    Donal clenched his jaw, shook his head and looked down the road ahead.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Siobhan and Finn dismounted. Finn held the cauldron as Donal inched into the saddle. Finn handed Donal the cauldron.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to pull her next to Airgid and then pony him,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We¡¯re not going to fight them all, and we don¡¯t want waste time running all the way back here.¡±


    Once Donal was in place, Siobhan handed Airgid¡¯s reins to him.


    ¡°This won¡¯t be easy with that thing in your lap,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to keep calm and let us take care of our end.¡±


    Siobhan and Finn ran ahead, followed by Maeve riding along the left. Neither Finn nor Siobhan resorted to much magic, though Finn winced a few times while wielding his sword in his sore left arm.


    A couple of well-placed wind gusts by the duo knocked down the remaining undead on the road, allowing Maeve to move forward and thin the group of five approaching the main road.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take these last two,¡± Siobhan said to Finn. ¡°Get yourselves squared away on G¨¢la. Let¡¯s get moving before we have to contend with that bunch up top.¡±


    Finn didn¡¯t have to go far. Donal had the horses right behind them.


    ¡°You did good with this,¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯ve never done it myself.¡±


    Finn was back in the saddle and Siobhan was ready to mount Airgid. She paused and squinted her eyes at the road behind them. Faint hoofbeats sounded behind them, half of a mile away from them at the furthest.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be him,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°I knew I should have chased their horses away again,¡± Donal said.


    She settled atop her horse, and they caught up to Maeve as she felled the third creature of its group.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure why some of them take more than one arrow after getting hit in the same spot,¡± she said.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Dother¡¯s behind us.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll grant him this,¡± Maeve said. ¡°That creep can run for having an arrow in his leg.¡±


    Their horses galloped for half of mile until they heard an unnatural animal noise around the next bend. All three of their horses stopped abruptly. Donal had to hook his brother¡¯s torso to stop himself from falling off. Airgid bucked, but Siobhan managed to stay in the saddle.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be!¡± Finn said. ¡°What is he doing here?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Finn kicked his heels and urged G¨¢la around the bend for confirmation.


    ¡°The dullahan.¡±


    The headless rider waited for them two hundred yards away. Siobhan and Maeve joined the brothers¡¯ side.


    ¡°This is impossible,¡± Finn said. ¡°A dullahan doesn¡¯t come out in the sun. I¡¯ve never read about them traveling in daylight. Now he¡¯s done it twice.¡±


    ¡°Sure look, you go tell him that it¡¯s past his bedtime,¡± Maeve said, ¡°and we¡¯ll just take the cauldron and catch up with you later.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be needing that back-up plan now,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°The good news is that we¡¯re near a place that might¡ªI say, might¡ªhelp Finn remove the curse on the cauldron.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we can be choosy at this point,¡± Finn said. ¡°What¡¯s the bad news?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s two hundred yards past yer man over there.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too cramped here with the hedges,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I don¡¯t think we should fight him here.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Donal said. ¡°Here he comes.¡±


    The dullahan fanned the reins and sent his steed toward them.


    ¡°Tuck in behind me,¡± Maeve said. ¡°I don¡¯t think one arrow will drop him, but it can knock him off-balance.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s going to raise his arm right before he cracks that whip,¡± Finn said. ¡°That¡¯s your opening.¡±


    Maeve kicked Sc¨¢th down the road with an arrow already on her bowstring. Finn and Siobhan followed her. The dullahan pulled his whip from his side. Maeve would be within range in a manner of seconds. She loosed her arrow at the first twitch of the rider¡¯s shoulder and planted it an inch to the right of its collarbone. It hunched over and grabbed its shoulder as the group passed by.


    ¡°There¡¯s the turn!¡± Siobhan said.


    A road led to the left ahead of a dense pine forest.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to Doon Rock?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Doon Well, actually,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But they¡¯re in the same general location.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s supposed to be a Catholic well,¡± Finn said. ¡°That¡¯s not supposed to work with s¨ªlrad magic. Right?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, you¡¯d have to ask Murrough or my mam about that. What I do know is that druids considered it sacred long before the Church did.¡±


    They turned south and rode up the hill. The early dawn light that radiated off the fields to their left could not break through the forest on their right. Soon the forest spread across the road, leaving only a distant window of light in front of them. The window widened as they approached until most of the clearing behind it was visible.


    The area was more a valley in between treeless hills than it was an open meadow. A slope on their right ran up a steeper hill that extended behind them, towering over the pine forest from which the group emerged. A softer hill on their left was the backstop that kept the turf below it sodden with rainwater.


    Mismatched stones were arranged in an asymmetrical pile closer to the middle of the valley.


    ¡°Doon Rock, I presume?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°That would be the well,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°The Rock is atop that hill behind us.¡±


    ¡°Grand, beats havin¡¯ to haul this thing up there,¡± Donal said. ¡°Crack on, Finn.¡±


    ¡°Did you forget about what¡¯s coming our way?¡± Maeve asked.


    Siobhan turned to the brothers.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get the horses on the far side,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°Hopefully they won¡¯t get far in the confusion. Maeve, are you comfortable with covering us from horseback?¡±


    Maeve nodded. She followed the rest of the group as they rode past the well. Siobhan, Finn and Donal dismounted near an abandoned hut at the base of the hill.


    ¡°What about the cauldron?¡± Donal said.


    ¡°I¡¯d keep it near us,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°If we leave it alone the dullahan could grab it and ride out. We¡¯d have to go through all this again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re assuming it¡¯s coming for the cauldron and not us,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°I¡¯m only eliminating a risk. I¡¯d love to be on higher ground, but we don¡¯t have time to run up to the Rock.¡±


    She pointed to Donal.


    ¡°Put the cauldron next to the well. We¡¯ll fight from there. I only wish I had a better sense of how that dullahan was going to come at us.¡±


    ¡°Not just the dullahan,¡± Finn said.


    He gestured to the valley entrance. Dother entered alongside the dullahan.


    ¡°Mind if I try to talk some sense into the nice man?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°You¡¯d have some of your own first,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°Give me a lash at him, Siobhan,¡± he said. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work, Maeve can put an arrow in him.¡±


    Siobhan looked at Maeve, who sighed and replied with a single nod. The group turned to face their adversaries. The sorcerer pointed to the cauldron in Donal¡¯s hand.


    ¡°My friend and I will be taking that back, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± Dother said. ¡°Seeing as it belongs to us.¡±


    Finn tilted his head.


    ¡°But we do mind, actually,¡± he said. ¡°Seeing as it never was yours in the first place.¡±


    Dother dismounted. Both sides crept toward the well in the center of the valley. Maeve held Sc¨¢th in place, her hand on the bow, her eyes locked on the dullahan. The only sign of her last arrow strike was a hole in the collarbone area of its leather tunic. There was no stain on it and no hitch in its movement.


    ¡°What would you want with it, anyway?¡± Dother asked. ¡°It no longer serves its original purpose. Let me take it and we¡¯ll all live to fight each other another day.¡±


    Siobhan caught Donal¡¯s attention as they approached the well. She looked at the cauldron and then cast her eyes downward, prompting Donal to set the cauldron down. She drifted away from Finn¡¯s left side. Donal did the same in the opposite direction. Finn¡¯s focus remained on his conversation but he did flash a look of confusion toward Donal for dropping the cauldron. Finn stepped toward it.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t serve its original purpose at the moment,¡± Finn said. ¡°That can be remedied.¡±


    ¡°Can it now?¡± Dother asked. ¡°By you? A week¡¯s training as a bard and now you can undo something that required an entire month of work from two sorcerers of our skill to complete?¡±


    ¡°Of course I can,¡± Finn said. ¡°Sure, it might take me a whole day but I might get lucky and get it sorted before lunch.¡±


    Dother reshaped his grin into a sneer.


    ¡°The mouth on you,¡± Dother said.


    Finn¡¯s hand gestures bordered on theatrical.


    ¡°It would explain why Breaslin made his move and summoned a dullahan to abduct me before I could be taught,¡± Finn said. ¡°He couldn¡¯t have someone as naturally adept as me interfering. Look what I did to his curse at that abandoned farm.¡±


    Dother¡¯s brow wrinkled above glaring eyes.


    ¡°Or was that your curse?¡± Finn said. ¡°It did seem rather easy, looking back on it. But perhaps that level of skill is why I was taken.¡±


    Dother¡¯s face darkened until he glimpsed Siobhan. She spent the conversation approaching from the sorcerer''s right. He smiled and reengaged with Finn.


    ¡°If you say so,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, come now,¡± Finn said. ¡°There¡¯s no need for secrets among peers. Especially since your boss is buried under a stone wall.¡±


    ¡°If you say so.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need the cauldron now that he¡¯s gone,¡± Finn said.


    Dother¡¯s smile widened.


    ¡°If you¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªsay so. Right,¡± Finn said.


    Whatever move Finn was planning, Dother sniffed it out. Donal found himself jealous of the restraint. His brother was adept at baiting him into doing something that he didn¡¯t want to do. Instead, the sorcerer stopped limping towards the well to keep Siobhan and Donal in his periphery.


    ¡°So the dullahan took me for no reason at all?¡± Finn asked.


    Dother shrugged.


    ¡°It would appear so,¡± Dother said.


    The sorcerer¡¯s smile was so wide his teeth parted. Finn smiled back.


    ¡°Ah here, I see now that it¡¯s your open and sharing nature Breaslin treasured the most,¡± Finn said. ¡°Little surprise as to how your allegiance worked so well for you.¡±


    Dother chuckled. Finn¡¯s smile flattened.


    ¡°Until it didn¡¯t.¡±


    Finn flicked his hand. A silver-headed arrow loosed from behind him.

 40) Last stand

    Dother fell backwards and threw up a barrier in time to avoid getting hit by Maeve''s arrow. Donal charged at the sorcerer, who pointed back at him and yelled to the dullahan.


    ¡°Get him!¡±


    The dullahan urged its steed forward. Once within range, it dropped its right hand to the side. Having never fought against a whip, Donal held the spearhead high and away and pulled his head back as far as he could. The creature cracked its whip at Donal, striking the spear. The whip was too thick to wrap around the spear, but the force knocked it from Donal¡¯s hands.


    Donal rolled from whip recoil as the otherworldly steed rode past. Dother let fly a bolt of crackling energy across the well at Finn.


    ¡°Boc¨®it!¡± Finn yelled.


    Dother¡¯s spell broke against Finn¡¯s translucent shield with no recoil or ricochet. Siobhan approached from the sorcerer¡¯s right.


    ¡°Tr¨¦an¨¢il!¡±


    Her staff and sword glowed yellow. Dother hurled a ball of fire at her. She batted it with her staff and the fire broke upon impact. Maeve pointed her bow at the dullahan as it passed Donal towards her. The dullahan brought his whip up from below and cracked it. The whip was too far away to hit her but its crack spooked Sc¨¢th into galloping to the other side of the field.


    The creature turned and guided its steed for another run at Donal. He and Maeve had the dullahan''s focus, leaving Finn unnoticed off to the side. Finn sent forth a thunderous blast as the creature neared, knocking the creature from its mount. Donal used the opportunity to regather his spear.


    As the dullahan rose from the ground, its steed bucked and brayed. Little bits of smoke trailed upwards from its neck and back, until finally the edges of those parts began to glow. A tongueless fire spread across the beast as if it were made of parchment until the skeletal steed had disappeared, leaving no trace of ash or smoke behind.


    ¡°Dya¡¯do to the horse?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Finn said. ¡°I was aiming for him, and I got him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because he got off the horse,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± Finn said. ¡°He got off the horse at Ards Beg. Focus!¡±


    The dullahan stood up and ran straight for Donal. Donal sprinted toward it, attempting to get too close for the whip to cause maximum harm. The creature swung its whip three times in quick succession.


    Donal parried several overhead, underhand and basic attacks but those deflections were more desperate shoves of a spear handle than deft techniques of anticipation. As the creature brought the whip over its head for another strike, it shoved Donal back with the open hand. Its next attack would hurt.


    Donal chopped the left hand down and stepped toward the dullahan. Reflex took over and he shoved the spearhead upward toward the space where the creature¡¯s head should have been. The whip arm came down and missed him, but he was left in the creature¡¯s loose embrace.


    His face was chest-level with his foe. A silver medallion hung around the collar of the dullahan¡¯s cloak, the image of a spiral notched like a goat¡¯s horn engraved on it. Donal looked at its tunic, gloves and waist. Its gear had only iron buckles and fasteners¡ªnot a scrap of gold or silver to be found.


    Donal planted his back foot into the ground and summoned an imb¨¢ulad shove into the creature¡¯s torso, separating the combatants.


    ¡°Finn, give me some room!¡± Donal yelled.


    Maeve heard Donal¡¯s call and planted an arrow in the creature¡¯s thigh. Finn looked away from Dother and found his brother on one knee. He called forth a wall of wind toward the pair. Donal dug his spear into the turf and held his ground. The dullahan flew backwards and landed in the marshy area of the valley.


    Donal yelled over the weapon strikes and spell impacts.


    ¡°Siobhan! You and Finn were next to that thing at the tomb, right?¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Did he have anything around his neck?¡±


    Dother switched his target from Finn to Siobhan.


    ¡°Guirid idlann.¡±


    Siobhan ducked a blast of heat and turned back to Dother.


    ¡°Gaibid fr¨¦m,¡± she said.


    Roots emerged from under Dother and climbed his body.


    ¡°I think I remember something when he first took me to the tomb,¡± Finn said.


    Siobhan¡¯s voice strained, her eyes remained on the sorcerer.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But it was dark and I was in some trouble.¡±


    Maeve loosed another arrow at the dullahan but he struck it out of the air with his whip.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "I hate how savage that looked," Maeve muttered.


    ¡°Anyway," Donal said with a quick glare at Maeve, "according to Finn this thing isn¡¯t meant to be out in the daytime."


    Siobhan¡¯s posture straightened. She extended her pointer finger from her sword¡¯s hilt toward Donal.


    ¡°Try it!¡±


    ¡°Idlann l¨²th!¡± Dother yelled.


    Purple lightning flew from Dother¡¯s free hand toward Siobhan, striking her in her sword arm. She dropped to her knees and let go of her leaf blade. Finn ran over to cover her as she examined her wounds.


    The dullahan removed the arrow in its leg and stood up, showing little evidence of injury. Donal ran to it once more, holding his spear by the bottom of its handle. He swung and lunged at the creature until he created a gap through which he could get at the medallion.


    He slipped in between its arms and swiped at the medallion with his left hand, but the creature grabbed hold of it. He dropped his spear and reached for the medallion with his right hand. The dullahan was able to grab and hold it with only its thumb and index finger, the other three digits still wrapped around the whip handle. It planted a foot in his chest and shoved Donal backwards.


    Finn advanced within melee range of Dother. He relented his magical barrier and swung his sword, putting the sorcerer on his heels. Siobhan pulled herself to her knees with her staff. Her left arm hung limp at her side.


    The creature swung the whip downward at Donal but he rolled out of the way before the whip struck the ground. It raised its arm for another swing but recoiled after catching another arrow in its right shoulder.


    Donal pushed himself up and saw a divot in the turf where he had laid. He held out his arm, focused on the spear at the dullahan¡¯s feet and caught the handle as his weapon flew back to him.


    ¡°Think you can hit that thing on its chest?¡± Donal yelled.


    Maeve scoffed and knocked another arrow. Donal parried another whip crack from the creature. Maeve¡¯s arrow struck the medallion but broke without damaging its target.


    ¡°That¡¯s our target,¡± Donal said.


    Donal hurled his spear at the creature. The dullahan clattered it into the turf with the top of the whip handle.


    ¡°Too big and slow,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± said Donal. ¡°Put one more in that thing, then help Finn out with Dother.¡±


    Donal raised his hand and summoned his weapon from the ground in front of the dullahan. He sprinted for Siobhan and threw his head under her wounded arm to help her into a standing position.


    ¡°I need you to put a ¡®tad extra¡¯ on this,¡± Donal said.


    Siobhan nodded and looked at the spear.


    ¡°Tr¡ª¡±


    Donal grabbed her healthier hand.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Donal said. ¡°And maybe something a little more combustive. Give me a moment.¡±


    Maeve circled back to Siobhan¡¯s side of the well. Finn¡¯s anger had served him well in holding back Dother, but the sorcerer knocked him back and Dother¡¯s hand began to flicker with purple light. Maeve grazed her target¡¯s forearm, allowing Finn time to regroup. Donal was now across the well from the dullahan.


    He held his bident level with the ground. He drew in breath until his lungs could expand no further and felt his chest warm as he slowly exhaled. With his left hand Donal pulled all the energy from Mag Mon that he could hold and with his right he pulled the spear back.


    Siobhan called from behind him as stepped into his throw.


    ¡°Lasadh sle¨¢.¡±


    The spear traveled with the speed of an arrow. By the time the larger of its two prongs pierced the medallion, the entire weapon was aflame. The medallion split in two and fell to the ground. There was no wait for smoke to turn into flame. The spear ignited the dullahan and the headless rider met the same fate as its steed.


    Dother cries of rage created a concussive blast that spread across the valley, unhorsing Maeve and sending the rest of the group flying. The sorcerer picked up Fragarach and walked over to Finn.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to use you as sacrifice to summon another,¡± Dother said. ¡°Even if they do restore the cauldron without you, you can serve the other plans we have in motion.¡±


    He examined the sword and smiled as he pointed it to Finn¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Before I lead you out of here,¡± he said, ¡°it¡¯s time that your friends heard the truth from that mouth of yours. Did you really think you were a match for my magic?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Finn said. ¡°How could I be with just a week¡¯s training? That would be absurd.¡±


    Dother cackled.


    ¡°Fortunately for me, both of my teachers are more than your match.¡±


    Dother¡¯s smile faded. He looked up as a slate grey cloud took shape sixty feet above his head. He was so distracted by it that he didn¡¯t see Finn crawl away from him.


    ¡°¡®Both?¡¯ Who besides Murrough has taught¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªSaiget gel¨¢in!¡± Siobhan yelled.


    With a single bolt of lightning, the small cloud neutralized the last remaining threat to the cauldron of The Dagda.


    ¡°Maeve?¡± Donal yelled. ¡°You hurt?¡±


    Maeve laid flat on the ground, partially obscured by her horse as it nuzzled her.


    ¡°I sure hope that was all of ¡®em, because I think I broke my arm,¡± she said, ¡°and the rest of you are terrible shots.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go so easy on us,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Please,¡± Maeve said. ¡°If I had to listen to you brag about how amazing you were at magic for any longer, I would have cut your belt with an arrow.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°I was willing to try,¡± Maeve said.


    Finn chuckled and stood up. He walked over and helped Siobhan to her feet and they reexamined the scorch wounds on her left arm.


    ¡°I thought maybe Dother needed to know how it felt,¡± she said.


    ¡°What now?¡± Donal asked as he walked over to help Maeve.


    ¡°We¡¯re already here,¡± Finn said. ¡°Let¡¯s try cleansing the cauldron.¡±


    Finn picked up the cauldron and walked it to the side of the well. The water level in the well was three feet below the highest points of its makeshift walls. The vessel was nearly as wide as the well''s opening.


    ¡°Are you sure this place will help us fix it?¡± Finn asked. "Or could it curse the well?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not certain,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°but after all this, I like our chances.¡±


    Finn lowered the cauldron¡ªcloaks and all¡ªuntil it rested atop the water surface. He stood up straight, held his hand out and closed his eyes. After a few deep breaths he reopened them and spoke:


    ¡°Bennachad arsaid an Dagda a athnuigid.¡±


    Finn circled his hands as the cauldron began to shake. The water upon which the vessel floated was rolling as if it were hung over a fireplace. He held the cast for nearly a minute before the rolling slowed and the top cloak fell to the side. The pale yellow cloud that lingered inside the vessel was gone.


    Finn pulled the cauldron from the well and examined it.


    ¡°How will we know if this works?¡± he asked.


    ¡°There aren¡¯t any fields up here,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But there are plenty between us and Niall.¡±


    She walked over to him and stooped by the cauldron.


    ¡°Dya¡¯feel that, though?¡± she said. ¡°Feels better. Healthier.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you eejits know anything about the tales?¡± Donal asked.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Siobhan asked.


    Donal walked over to the cauldron and stuck his hand through the opening. He was startled at first when his hand couldn¡¯t feel the bottom of a three foot cauldron, but his hunger took over and he pulled out a roasted chicken leg.


    ¡°Of course that¡¯s the bit you remember,¡± Finn said.


    Finn threw an arm around Siobhan and received two in return. After the squeeze she walked over to Maeve to tend to her arm.


    ¡°Gather the weapons, fellas,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°We have to get the cauldron back to Niall before Donal leaves it bare.¡±

 41) Epilogue

    ¡°Finn? Are you still out here?¡±


    Murrough navigated back and forth through fields of chest-high wheat behind the MacLaughlin home. Once Finn had pulled the final weed in his area¡ªand the novelty of hiding waned¡ªhe stood up to let his uncle off the hook.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t hide from you like this six weeks ago, could I?¡± Finn said.


    Murrough canted his head.


    ¡°Why would you want to hide from me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying I wanted to. I¡¯m saying couldn¡¯t hide from you even if I wanted.¡±


    Finn looked west at the orange sky.


    ¡°Surprised to see you out here this late in the day,¡± he said.


    ¡°I could say the same for you, lad. I had expected to catch you two after dinner," Murrough said. "Have you eaten?¡±


    ¡°Soon,¡± Finn said. ¡°We¡¯re going to help out the O¡¯Gallaghers tomorrow. I wanted to finish up some things here today.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Siobhan?¡±


    ¡°Taking a break by the bay,¡± Finn said. ¡°She¡¯s meant to be, at least. Now that everything¡¯s popping out of the ground, she worries about covering Donal¡¯s share of the work while he¡¯s gone.¡±


    Murrough smiled.


    ¡°Right?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Putting a toe outside the house before noon would qualify as ¡®covering Donal¡¯s share.¡¯¡±


    Finn clapped the dirt off his hands and rested them on his hips.


    ¡°I was just going to get her,¡± Finn said. ¡°Come on.¡±


    Murrough gestured for Finn to lead the way. They stepped between his barley fields toward the beach.


    ¡°Has everyone recovered?¡± Finn asked.


    ¡°Essentially,¡± Murrough said. ¡°The renewal spread much like the curse did. It''s still making its way to furthest cursed regions, but those regions weren¡¯t cursed for long¡ªthey weren¡¯t affected as much as we were.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been worried about,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°We were able to bring back a lot of the summer crops, which is great,¡± Finn said. ¡°Still, the harvest was delayed by over a month. Did we permanently shift the annual calendar? Must we change the Old Holidays permanently because of what we did?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t change the sun or the moon, which means we didn¡¯t change the seasons or the tides,¡± Murrough said. ¡°Indeed, the next few months before winter will be unusual but nobody will go hungry because of it¡ªthanks to the four of you.¡±


    ¡°The six of us, you mean,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Because I know you won¡¯t let me count you as seven.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Murrough said. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    Siobhan must have heard them talking.


    ¡°Howya, Murrough?" she asked. "Come for dinner?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had dinner. But perhaps I could do with some more.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant,¡± she said. ¡°Just taking in the last views of the evening before we head in.¡±


    The three of them looked out over Ballyness Bay and let the waves and gulls run the conversation for a few minutes. Murrough noticed Finn¡¯s eyeline never strayed from one place.


    ¡°This entire bay, full of beauty, and you can¡¯t help but stare at the gloomiest part,¡± he said.


    ¡°That fog over Tory Island is still there,¡± Finn said. ¡°We never found Breaslin. I can¡¯t help but think this business with the Fomori isn¡¯t over.¡±


    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t,¡± Murrough said. ¡°If Breaslin¡¯s already involved Crom Dubh, we should expect he¡¯s approached the more traditional Fomori leaders.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not encouraging,¡± Finn said. ¡°Have we lost all of the ground we gained on them for the sake of rest and the harvest?¡±


    ¡°We have not,¡± Murrough said. ¡°You¡¯re right to worry about becoming complacent but the Fomori and their sympathizers have gone quiet for now. Also, we¡¯re in a better place to respond if they resurface. You four became a formidable team in the span of ten days and you boys have had six more weeks of training since then. And we¡¯re not the only S¨ªlrad D¨¦ithe and S¨ªlrad Cummasc in Ulster, much less in Ireland. We¡¯ll add more to our ranks. If things get truly desperate, we can go looking for the other Treasures.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°You know where the Sword and Spear are?¡± Siobhan asked. ¡°That¡¯s the first I¡¯ve heard of anyone knowing that.¡±


    ¡°I know where some say they are,¡± Murrough said. ¡°But it is quite the trip. I¡¯d prefer we not make the journey unless it¡¯s necessary. Tell me something, Finn: is this all you talk about?¡±


    Finn narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his brow.


    ¡°You have a way of bringing it out of him,¡± Siobhan said, ¡°As of late, he only brings it up when you¡¯re around.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad of it,¡± Murrough said. ¡°If you spend all your time worrying about trouble that might happen, you¡¯ll miss out on all the joy that is happening. It will hollow you out. You can be vigilant and remain present in the world around you. I had hoped to have successfully taught you that lesson by now.¡±


    ¡°Ah well, it¡¯s not for your lack of trying,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°We¡¯re working on it,¡± Siobhan said.


    Murrough and Siobhan shared a smile.


    ¡°How about I head in and give you a jump on dinner?¡± Murrough said.


    ¡°Thank you, uncle,¡± Finn said. ¡°We¡¯ll be in soon.¡±


    Murrough winked at Siobhan as he headed toward the house. Finn sat down next to her.


    ¡°O¡¯Gallaghers tomorrow?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too bad,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯ll be good to get them taken care of.¡±


    ¡°Listen to you,¡± she said. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say Finn MacLaughlin is starting to like farming.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s always easier when things are growing,¡± he said, ¡°but I have made peace with it. It could be a good life.¡±


    He looked Siobhan over and smiled.


    ¡°A very good life.¡±


    Siobhan groaned and rolled her eyes in spite of her reddening face.


    ¡°Getting ahead of ourselves again, are we?¡± she asked.


    The smile on Finn¡¯s face disappeared. He stammered in search of a response. Siobhan let him off the hook with a giggle and a forearm to his upper arm. She leaned on him and rested her head on his shoulder.


    ¡°How do you think he¡¯s doing?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Shiv,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s good that he can be out there without me¡ªor you, for that matter. It¡¯s such an odd feeling to say, ¡®I don¡¯t know what my brother''s doing¡¯ without a sense of worry. Odd to know that when he hits a rough patch he can get through it without me there.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see him soon enough,¡± she said. ¡°In the meantime, he¡¯s among family. They¡¯ll work it out together.¡±


    ****


    Donal nearly tripped over Niall¡¯s dog as he ran to the window.


    ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± yelled Donal.


    ¡°What are you yelling about?¡± Niall said.


    Donal pointed toward the front yard of the MacRannell home.


    ¡°Gavin¡¯s here,¡± he said. ¡°I hear his horse, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°¡®That¡¯s all¡¯ is not something you yell about,¡± Niall said. ¡°And C¨¢emaid is still officially my horse¡ªnot that she cares anymore.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I yelled because wanted to make sure Maeve heard me?¡±


    ¡°She was sitting between us right here at the bleedin¡¯ table!¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Maeve said. ¡°Someone¡¯s here? Why didn¡¯t you eejits tell me?¡±


    Niall grunted as he started to stand.


    ¡°Give Gavin my regards. I have anywhere else to be.¡±


    ¡°Sit down, big fella,¡± said Maeve. ¡°You¡¯re only encouraging us to keep going.¡±


    Gavin opened the door and stepped inside from the chilly autumnal morning. He carried something wrapped in linen under his arm.


    ¡°Dia daoibh,¡± Gavin said.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you in a week,¡± Niall said. ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Ah, you know yourself,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Some projects come up and reel you right in until you finish them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± Niall said. ¡°Still, it¡¯s good to see you, lad.¡±


    Gavin smiled. He walked over to the table to the seat Donal almost kicked over on his rush to the window.


    ¡°This seat taken?¡± Gavin asked.


    ¡°It is not,¡± Maeve said. ¡°All yours!¡±


    Donal flashed her a dirty look as he sat down the last empty chair. She returned one of mock innocence before she turned to Gavin, idly rubbing the top of his back. Gavin placed the parcel on the table and leaned over to pet P¨²c.


    ¡°This is?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°For you,¡± Gavin said.


    Gavin slid it across the table to Niall. The elder reached with his left hand and unfurled each corner of the linen wrapping, one at a time.


    He stared the item through squinted eyes for a few moments.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Niall said. ¡°It¡¯s a metal fist. I appreciate the thought and all but it¡¯s too heavy to just hang on my arm all day.¡±


    ¡°Look closer,¡± Gavin said.


    Niall picked the silver hand up and looked back at Gavin. Every segment of each finger was a separate piece, held together at the joints by metal pins. He set the back of the hand on the table and opened each finger until the entire palm was exposed.


    ¡°How is this meant to work?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t¡ªyet,¡± Gavin said. ¡°I¡¯m going to need some help to finish the job.¡±


    ¡°It looks finished to me,¡± Niall said.


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t work,¡± Gavin said. ¡°I talked to C¨ªan MacSweeney down at Doe. He and Siobhan will meet us down there the week after next to see if we can get this yoke behaving like a proper hand.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°Are you going to sit there and pretend you don¡¯t know the story of your own ancestor?¡± Gavin asked. ¡°Nuada¡¯s silver hand allowed him to rule the Tuatha D¨¦ for a second time.¡±


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe he made a spear that flies back to its owner,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°¡®Always the arm of a descendant of Lugh,¡¯¡± Gavin said. ¡°I wish I could have seen the look on your face the first time you learned that wasn¡¯t a simple poem.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of,¡± Niall said, ¡°where is that spear? I haven¡¯t seen it lately. Is it back at Ards Beg?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± Donal said. ¡°Right here.¡±


    Donal pointed to the silver hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re daft!¡± Niall said. ¡°Why would you do that?¡±


    ¡°It had already been a month, and Gavin said he couldn¡¯t get enough silver,¡± Donal said. ¡°We saved the stone from the Red Javelin in case we need Gavin to make another one. But I don¡¯t need a weapon right now as much as you need this.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree with it,¡± Niall said, ¡°but thank you. Thank you both.¡±


    ¡°Oi! I had to part with a couple silver arrowheads myself!¡± Maeve said. ¡°Where¡¯s my thanks?¡±


    ¡°You still kept 20 of them,¡± Donal muttered.


    ¡°I heard that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Maeve,¡± Niall said.


    The group watched Niall rotate the hand in different orientations for further examination.


    ¡°So, Donal,¡± Gavin said, ¡°Five weeks away from home. How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been six,¡± he said. ¡°But it¡¯s been grand. Sure, I miss my brother sometimes¡ªbut don¡¯t tell him that.¡±


    ¡°We know you miss Siobhan more than your brother, anyway,¡± Maeve said.


    ¡°As anyone would,¡± Donal said.


    ¡°Have your episodes gone away?¡± Gavin asked.


    ¡°I still get ¡®em,¡± Donal said, ¡°and they still get rather dark. But I¡¯m getting better at remembering in the moment that the light always comes back. It¡¯s not easy, and there are times when I still can¡¯t or it doesn''t help. It¡¯s slowly getting better, though, and for now that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s enough of us to remind you if you forget,¡± said Niall. ¡°Come on, there¡¯s enough time to get in a training session before lunch.¡±

 Tale 1, Chapter 1: Grim news from the west

    ¡°He still won¡¯t eat,¡± Siobhan MacSweeney said. ¡°He just lies there with his back to the rest of the loft.¡±


    She sat at her dinner table between her mother, D¨¢irine, and Niall MacRannell, an old family friend. Mrs. MacSweeney nodded but her distant stare and flat expression hinted that the motion was more reflex than acknowledgment.


    Niall cleared his throat, though it did little to smooth the gravel within.


    ¡°Has he said anything else?¡±


    ¡°He did stretch one grunt into two syllables, if that counts,¡± Siobhan said.


    D¨¢irine¡¯s eyes shifted to her daughter. The amount by which they narrowed was too small for anyone but her own children to understand the annoyance gathering behind them.


    ¡°Sorry, Mam,¡± Siobhan said.


    ¡°This is no time for jokes!¡± Dair¨ªne said.


    ¡°I gathered as much,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°That¡¯s why I apologized.¡±


    ¡°You know that O¡¯Roarke lad likely heard you from up there, right?¡±


    ¡°I meant no disrespect,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°But what is he doing up there? Gavin was at Murrough¡¯s hut today before breakfast to bring him news. Hours later, he was pounding on our door. Murrough legged it out of here and you sent Cathal and Ciar¨¢n away after him.¡±


    ¡°You know I¡¯m not a little girl, Mam. Even without all your extra teachings, eighteen is plenty old enough to notice things like Gavin¡¯s bloody ionar vest over in the corner and his body laying up there in my bed with nary a scratch on it. You¡¯re clearly waiting for something before you let me in on this mess so I¡¯m trying to keep calm and patient, but my brothers themselves left three hours ago.¡±


    Absent of a response from her mother, she sighed.


    ¡°This feels too much like the night you told us about Da.¡±


    Niall tilted his head and raised his eyebrows before lifting his eyes from his ale to Mrs. MacSweeney.


    The widow took Siobhan¡¯s hand in both of hers and squeezed. Her sniff pinched a tear from the side of each eye.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shivvy,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right; it reminds me of that night as well. And for good reason¡ª¡±


    Siobhan jerked her hand away from her mother and slid back her chair.


    ¡°¡ªAre my brothers alright? My nephews and nieces?¡±


    ¡°The whole family is still fine. But something terrible has happened. Your brothers should be back soon with news.¡±


    ¡°Do you hear that?¡± Niall asked.


    The lull in conversation allowed the breeze to carry the sound into the room. Distant hooves pounded the road that led to their house.


    ¡°I¡¯d wager that¡¯s themselves coming now,¡± he said


    Even knowing her family was safe, the day¡¯s events had set Siobhan on edge. She ran past her cloak on her way out the front door and waited for them. The afternoon sunshine did little to lessen the bite of the mid-April wind from Ballyness Bay, but she was too focused on her older brothers¡¯ approach to notice. Her mother and Niall flanked her as the young men slid down from their saddles.


    Ciar¨¢n, the youngest of Siobhan¡¯s four older brothers, kept his eyes fixed downward and clenched his jaw so tight it flexed the muscles in his temples. Cathal gulped as he approached his mother.


    ¡°It¡¯s as Gavin told us,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Mrs. MacSweeney brought her index finger up to her mouth for a moment and took a deep breath.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be off to Dunfanaghy, then,¡± she said. ¡°No doubt Murrough will take the boys there. Niall, I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯ll have to impose an errand upon you. I know you¡¯d rather be helping Murrough, of course. My apologies.¡±


    Niall¡¯s smile did not reach his eyes, despite the effort made by the lower half of his leathery face.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Niall said. ¡°I¡¯ll go wherever you need.¡±


    Mrs. MacSweeney hugged Cathal and placed a hand on the back of Ciar¨¢n¡¯s head as she held him and spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you boys had to see that,¡± she said. ¡°I hope you understand why I needed you to go together.¡±


    Ciar¨¢n¡¯s chin poked his mother¡¯s shoulder as he nodded.


    With a faint smile toward Niall and a brief clasp of her daughter¡¯s hand, the widow retreated into the house.


    ¡°Ambushed?¡± Niall asked.


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Cathal said. ¡°But I¡¯m not an expert in these things.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get someone who is,¡± Niall said. ¡°It may take her a day or two to get there, though. Did you see any of them skulking about the area?


    ¡°No signs of anyone shady the entire time we were in Magheroarty¡ªnot at the camp, not on the roads,¡± Cathal said. ¡°They were either gone or content to just watch us from places where I couldn¡¯t spot them.¡±


    Cathal stopped at the shudder of his younger brother¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Did you check on¡ª¡±


    ¡°We turned down their road on the way back until I was satisfied we were the only ones who had,¡± Cathal said. ¡°But I knew you and Mam were waiting on us.¡±


    ¡°Fair play, lad. Proud of you two.¡±


    Niall sighed and rubbed the top of his head.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s dead? Truly?¡±


    His face implied that he already knew the answer, but Siobhan assumed her elder wasn¡¯t above false hope.


    ¡°They are,¡± Cathal said. ¡°Those O¡¯Farrell brothers from Cavan, Colum O¡¯Doherty, Deirdre McFadden¡ªeven Fintan and Aoife MacLaughlin.¡±


    Niall met Siobhan¡¯s eyes as her brother said the last two names.


    ¡°Both?¡± Siobhan asked.


    ¡°Both,¡± Cathal said.


    Those poor lads, she thought. What¡¯s going to happen to them?


    ****


    ¡°Gavin, you have to eat some breakfast,¡± Siobhan said. ¡°You¡¯ve gone a full day without eating a thing.¡±


    She tapped the cup on the small stand and noted the ripples halfway down. The man in her bed silently stared at the wall furthest from the opening that led to the rest of the home.


    Siobhan slept in her mother¡¯s empty bed the night before and that is the only reason she knew Gavin had moved at all since his arrival yesterday. He stubbed his toe on her mother¡¯s bedframe in the dark as he stumbled outside to answer the call of nature.


    She laid there silently and listened as he walked toward the front door, letting out soft grunts the first few times he put weight on his sore foot. When he reentered the house, he shuffled his feet past the bed on the way to the ladder for the sake of his other nine toes. He slid past Ciar¨¢n, snoring softly in the bed directly above her, before retaking his place in her usual bed.


    She knew to avoid engaging him on her terms. On his best days Gavin was a quiet man. Charming and affable, of course, but he rarely spoke ten words when he knew eight would do. Here in the morning, his brown eyes darted in her direction as she examined him once more for wounds. His knees were bent, keeping his lower legs from hanging over the foot of the bed. She stepped to a point on the edge of his eyeline.


    Nothing. The only marks she could find were scars on his exposed forearms, various burns from the forge built behind his cottage in Dunfanaghy. He was no more than six years her elder, but in his brief time he crafted the most intricate, beautiful and, occasionally, the most deadly things she¡¯d ever seen. Had he not been descended from the Tuatha D¨¦¡¯s legendary forgemaster, Goibniu, he¡¯d still be a prodigious blacksmith.


    A few locks of his dark, wavy hair had slipped down, partially obscuring the dark circles under his eyes. It was too uncomfortable of a sight for Siobhan. Gavin shuddered as she reached to brush away his hair. Siobhan stood upright and backed into the wall behind her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said.


    Gavin slowly closed his lids and nodded before meeting Siobhan¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to talk if you don¡¯t want to,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re just worried about you, and starving yourself isn¡¯t going to help anyone.¡±


    Gavin¡¯s eyes worked back to the wall. Siobhan sighed and turned to leave.


    ¡°I can¡¯t eat,¡± he said.


    She stooped down to his eye level.


    ¡°No?¡± she asked.


    She relied on time and quiet to draw out his answers.


    ¡°My head is in bits,¡± he said. ¡°My stomach¡¯s not much better.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯d feel better if you tried¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªI don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°Even if my stomach didn¡¯t feel this way, I¡¯m just not hungry.¡±


    She scanned him twice from head to toe and stood up.


    ¡°You¡¯re a grown man,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll keep something in the pot for when you¡¯re ready. I just hope you catch yourself on before I have to find¡­ alternative methods to get food down your gob.¡±


    She held up her hand, gently pulled it to her shoulder, and brought it forward. A soft green glow emerged from her palm. The light faded after a few seconds. Gavin glanced at Siobhan and resumed his study of the wall after another slow blink.


    Siobhan left his side and paused before she stepped onto the ladder.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t eat, at least try to sleep. Otherwise you¡¯ll find me much more chatty when you bump my bed tonight.¡±


    Gavin¡¯s shoulders jerked as he let out a solitary grunt of laughter.